[Modern scheme for the diagnosis of staphylococci]

A simplified scheme for the subdivision of coagulase-positive staphylococci and another simplified scheme for the diagnostics of coagulase-negative species were worked out. On the basis of the production of staphylokinase, coagulation of human and bovine plasma, acetoin production from glucose, and growth on agar with crystal violet, it is possible to identify S. aureus with its biovars A, B, C1, C2, D, as well as S. intermedius. The coagulase-negative species can be diagnosed according to their sensitivity to novobiocin, nitrate reduction, fermentation of maltose, sucrose, salicin, xylose, trehalose, mannitol and mannose, and haemolytic activity. The proposed diagnostic schemes were verified with success on the collection strains and on the 1305 staphylococci strains isolated largely from the bovine mammary gland, from dogs, man and domestic fowl. In S. aureus strains a close correlation was demonstrated between their biotype characteristics and the host species. A similar correlation was determined for S. intermedius. As to the coagulase-negative species, S. epidermidis, S. hominis and S. haemolyticus were diagnosed most frequently. Both schemes represent a reliable, prompt and technically simple method of the diagnostics of the Staphylococcus microorganisms.