Identification of Staphylococcus species

Staphylococci bacteria are gram positive cocci that usually exist in clusters. They exist as normal flora of the human skin, mucous membranes as well as some internal organs of both man and animals. Their natural habitats include water and soil. They are mainly characterized by their inability to produce spores and inability to move.

In addition, they are facultative anaerobic. This genus consists of many species some of which are pathogenic to humans such as S. aureas and S. epidermidis while others are opportunists. S. aureas is the most pathogenic of all especially due to its ability to induce toxins such as alpha and beta toxins hence increasing its ability to cause infections. (1). This genus is easily identified with the coagulase test which shows positive results. (FIG.7). the other species of the genera, are however, coagulase negative and can only cause serious infections in immune-compromised patients. The aim of this experiment is to determine diagnostic methods for Staphylococcus species(3).