[Value of different diagnostic tests for Micrococcaceae and their implication in pathology]

A number of 1431 products were examined and 200 coagulase-negative micrococcaceae strains were isolated and identified. On the basis of morphological aspects, enzymatic reactions and behavioural testing to antibiotics 18 strains (9%) were listed as Micrococcus and 182 (91%) as Staphylococcus strains. Efficient among the tests used for differentiating between the two genera were : microscopic aspects, pigmentogenesis, resistance to ClNa, anaerobic glucose fermentation, glycerol fermentation in the presence of erythromycin, reduction of nitrates to nitrites, and testing to novobiocin. Other tests, due to their variability, could only be used conjointly, and, finally, a further category had no diagnostic value, such as oxidase and catalase tests or the rhamnose fermentation reaction. Both the Micrococcus and the Staphylococcus strains were isolated from pathological cases and from healthy carriers, and can therefore be listed in the group of potential pathogens.