This document discusses the classification and identification of streptococci bacteria. It describes their morphology, culture characteristics, biochemical reactions, Lancefield grouping, and clinical significance. Key streptococci groups discussed include Group A (Streptococcus pyogenes), Group B (Streptococcus agalactiae), Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterococcus species. Identification is based on colony appearance on blood agar, Gram staining, and biochemical tests like catalase and bile solubility.

2. Streptococci are classified on the basis of
 Colony morphology
 Hemolysis
 Biochemical Reactions
And most definitively by:
 Serologic specificity

3.  Spherical gram positive cocci
 Seen in chains & pairs
 Individually round-ovoid cocci
 0.6-1.0µm in diameter
 Facultative anaerobes
 Non-motile
 Non-spore forming
 Catalase negative (2H2O2 ---> O2 + 2H2O)
◦ Separation of streptococci from staphylococci

4. Lancefield grouping
Created by Rebecca Lancefield for Serological
diagnosis.
It is method of grouping bacteria based on
carbohydrate composition of bacterial antigens
found on their cell walls.
CHO antigen gives precipitin reaction and forms
basis of this serologic grouping
26 groups: A-H & K-U

5. Group A: Strept. pyogenes
Group B: Strept. agalactiae
Group D: Strept. bovis & Enterococcus
Group E: Strept. mutans
Group H: Strept. sanguis
Group E,H & K-U: Primarily occur in animals
other than humans.
Strept. pneumoniae have no group specific
antigen so it is considered as non-lancefield
streptococci

6. On the basis of appearance on blood agar
streptococci are classified as:

8. SPECIMEN:
 Throat swab
 Pus swab
 CSF
 Blood
 Urine
CULTURE:
 Chocolate agar
 Blood agar
 MacConkey
agar(except for
S.pyogenes)
 Kanamycin Blood
agar (for isolating
S.agalactiae)

9.  Lancefield group A
 ß hemolytic
 Cause tonsillitis, pharyngitis, otitis media,
cellulitis, impetigo, septicaemia, scarlet fever,
occasionally toxic shock syndrome.
Post –Streptococcal Infections:
Occur 1-4 weeks following group A streptococcal
infection.
Sequelae:
 Skin infection Glomerulonephritis
 Throat infection Rheumatic fever

10.  Blood agar: small(0.5-1mm) colourless, dry,
shiny or mucoid ß haemolytic colonies
 Crystal violet Blood agar
 MacCkonkey agar: doesn’t grow on it
BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
 Catalase negative
 PYR positive
 Bacitracin: Sensitive
 Benzylpencillin: Always sensitive

11.  Lancefield group B
 non-motile
 usually capsulated strains
 Causes septic abortion, gynaecological
sepsis, UTI, neonatal septicaemia and
meningitis.
 NORMAL FLORA: Female genital tract
 Sample: CSF, ear swab, blood for culture, HVS
in women

12. Culture:
 Blood agar: grey mucoid colonies of 2mm
ß hemolysis.
 MacCkonkey agar: most strains grow on this
medium
 Kanamycin blood agar: for isolating S.agalactiae
from urogenital specimens
Biochemical tests:
 Catalase negative
 CAMP test: Positive
 Hippurate Hydrolysis test: Positive
Antimicrobial Sensitive: Penicillin & Erythromycin

13.  Part of upper respiratory flora
 Leading cause of pneumonia at extreme ages
 Bronchitis, Meningitis, sinusitis, otitis media
 Systemic infections: bacteraemia &
endocarditis
 Non-motile & capsulated
 Fastidious organism Autolytic colonies

14. Sample (Sputum,exudate,CSF,Blood) Culture
Blood agar
Chocolate agar
mucoid translucent
colonies 1-2mm
(ɖ- hemolysis)
Gram staining
Gram+ve cocci lancet shaped
Catalase: Negative
Bile solubility test: Positive
Optochin: Sensitive

15.  Gram positive cocci
 Occur in short pairs or chains
 Non-capsulated & non-motile
 Enterococci possess Lancefield group D
antigen
 Cause infections in urinary tract, biliary tract,
ulcers, wounds (95% E.faecalis)
 NORMAL COMMENSAL: Vagina & Intestinal tract

16. Aerobic grows at wide temperature range10-45 ºC
 Blood agar: Mainly non-haemolytic (some ɖ/ß)
 MacCkonkey agar: Small dark red magenta colonies
ferments lactose
 CLED agar: small yellow colonies
BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
Catalase Negative
 Ferments Lactose
 Reduce litmus milk
 Hydrolyze aesculin producing Black colonies
 grow in presense of 6.5% NaCl & 40% Bile

17.  Pencillins Amoxicillin
 Glycopeptides Vancomycin
 Carbapenem Imipenem
 Cephalosporins Cefazolin
 Lincosamides Clindamycin
 Tetracyclines Doxycycline