Difference between Staphylococcus and Micrococcus about:reader?url=https://microbeonline.com/difference-staphylococcus-m...

microbeonline.com

Difference between Staphylococcus

and Micrococcus
by Tankeshwar Acharya
3-4 minutos

Staphylococcus and Micrococcus both are Gram positive cocci

(GPC). Both of these cocci are non-motile, non-sporing and
Catalase Positive.

Staphylococcus in Gram Stain

Both of these organisms are normal flora of skin and mucous

membranes of man and animals. Member of the genus
Staphylococcus are associated with clinical infections whereas that
of Micrococcus are rarely involved in infection.

Some of the notable differences between Micrococcus and

Staphylococcus are:

Characteristics /Tests Micrococcus Staphylococcus

1 de 4 14/02/2018 11:14
Difference between Staphylococcus and Micrococcus about:reader?url=https://microbeonline.com/difference-staphylococcus-m...

Large Gram positive Gram positive cocci

cocci, usually in clusters,
Morphology
arranged in tetrads or sometimes in pairs
in pairs. and short chains.
Usually considered
contaminants of Bacteria of this
clinical specimen; genus are of primary
rarely implicated as clinical significance.
cause of S. aureus is a
Clinical Significance
infections.May cause notorious pathogen.
opportunistic S. saprophyticus
infection in an causes honeymoon
immunocompromised cystitis.
host.
Not lysed with Lysed with
Lysostaphin Sensitivity
lysostaphin lysostaphin
Test
(Resistant) (Sensitive)
Susceptible to
Furazolidone Sensitivity Resistant to antibiotic
antibiotic
Test Furazolidone
Furazolidone
Susceptible to 0.04 U Resistant to 0.04 U
Bacitracin sensitivity test
of Bacitracin of Bacitracin
Microdase Test Microdase Positive Microdase Negative
Facultative
They only grow
anaerobic(can use
Oxygen aerobically (obligate
either aerobic
requirementsCarbohydrate aerobe)Utilize sugars
respiration and/or
Utilization oxidatively or not at
fermentation
all in the O/F test.
depending on the

2 de 4 14/02/2018 11:14
Difference between Staphylococcus and Micrococcus about:reader?url=https://microbeonline.com/difference-staphylococcus-m...

availability of
oxygen, does not
solely depend on
aerobic respiration
for
growth).Fermentative
A. Bacitracin Sensitivity

This test is used for the rapid identification of group A streptococci.

It can be used to distinguish staphylococci (resistant) from
micrococci (sensitive).

Method:

Spread a suspension of the bacterium over a plate of sensitivity test

medium.

Apply a bacitracin disc containing 0.04 units of bacitracin and

incubate overnight

Result:

Most staphylococci grow up to the disc or show an inhibition zone

less than 10 mm in diameter.

Micrococci show an inhibition zone generally 10-20 mm in diameter.

B. Lysostaphin Sensitivity

This test distinguishes staphylococci (sensitive) from

micrococci (resistant).

Procedure and Result:

1. Emulsify the test isolate in 2 ml phosphate buffered saline at pH 7.3

to concentration equivalent to McFarland’s opacity standard no. 1.

2. Divide the suspension in to two portions. To one add a lysostaphin

3 de 4 14/02/2018 11:14
Difference between Staphylococcus and Micrococcus about:reader?url=https://microbeonline.com/difference-staphylococcus-m...

disc and shake vigorously. The other is the control.

3. Incubate both portions in a water-bath at 37°C for 2 hour.

4. Clearing of the test suspension relative to the control indicates

sensitivity to lysostaphin.

Gram Positive Cocci

Tankeshwar Acharya

Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I am Tankeshwar Acharya.

Blogging is my passion, I am working as a lecturer and
Microbiologist at Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur. If you want me to
write about any posts that you found confusing/difficult, leave in the
comments below.

4 de 4 14/02/2018 11:14