STREPTOCOCCAL AND ENTEROCOCCAL INFECTIONS

MICROBIOLOGY

Streptococci and enterococci are gram-positive cocci that form chains when grown in liquid media.
  • Culture on blood agar reveals three hemolytic patterns:
    • α-Hemolysis results in partial hemolysis that imparts a greenish appearance to agar. This pattern is seen with S. pneumoniae and viridans streptococci.
    • β-Hemolysis results in complete hemolysis around a colony. This pattern is seen with streptococci of Lancefield groups A, B, C, and G, which all form large (≥0.5-mm) colonies. Lancefield grouping is based on cell-wall carbohydrate antigens.
    • γ-Hemolysis describes the absence of hemolytic ability. This pattern is typical of enterococci, nonenterococcal group D streptococci, and anaerobic streptococci.
  • Streptococci and enterococci colonize the respiratory, GI, and genitourinary tracts as part of the normal flora. Several of these species are also important causes of human diseases.

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