MLS 484 Clinical Microbiology I

Aerobic Cocci
Study Guide
Objectives: At the conclusion of this unit, the student will be able to:
Part A: Gram Positive Cocci
1.
Discuss the principles of the following, and examine the biochemical reactions occurring:
a. Catalase
b. Slide and tube coagulase
c. Latex/RBC agglutination
d. Rapid Staph test
e. Bacitracin
f. CAMP
g. Bile esculin
h. 6.5% NaCl
i. Optochin
j. Bile solubility
k. PYR
l. Serological Strep grouping
m. Hemolysis
n. Antigen typing
o. Quelling test
p. Leucine Aminopeptidase(LAP) Test
q. Hippurate Hydrolysis test
2.
Identify the following organisms both morphologically and biochemically:
a. Staph aureus
b. Coag neg Staph
c. Staph saprophyticus
d. Beta hemolytic Strep Group A, B, C
e. Alpha hemolytic Strep (Viridans streptococci)
f. Non hemolytic Strep
g. Enterococci
h. Strep pneumoniae
i. Abiotrophia and Granulicatella
j. Aerococcus and Helcococcus
k. Leuconostoc
l. Gemella
m. Pediococcus
n. Micrococcus sp.
o. Stomatococcus
3.
Analyze the pathogenicity caused by the microorganisms above
4.
Differentiate between community acquired MRSA and hospital acquired MRSA
5.
Explain the meaning of MRSA and VRE and the significance of isolating these organisms
6.
Compare and contrast the tests used in the identification of MRSA
7.
Analyze the virulence factors associated with Staph and Strep
8.
Compare and contrast beta Strep species based on the results of the Bacitracin and SXT disk
results
9.
Compare and contrast the Streptococcus-like organisms
10.
Evaluate colony morphology, test results, and other pertinent information to identify gram
positive cocci
11.
Choose organisms that could serve as controls for each of the tests listed in objective one
above
Part B: Neisseria species
12.
Identify the colony morphology, biochemical characteristics, and examine the virulence
factors of:
a. Neisseria gonorrhoeae
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Aerobic Cocci
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b. Neisseria meningitidis
13.
Analyze the different collection requirements for Neisseria species
14.
Differentiate the varied microscopic results of genital cultures and their diagnostic
significance
1.
State the purpose and principles of the following, as well as analyze results for different
organisms:
a. Oxidase test
b. Carbohydrate utilization (CTA test)
c. Cefinase
d. Beta lactamase test
e. MTM
f. Superoxyl Test
2.
Analyze pathogenicity and disease states of N.gonorrhoeae and N. meningitidis, examining
different serotypes
17.
Describe the immunoassays available to detect N.gonorrhoeae
18.
Analyze the vaccine for N. meningitidis
19.
Evaluate colony morphology, test results, and other pertinent data to identify Neisseria
species
Part C: Moraxella
20.
Identify the colony morphology and biochemical characteristics of Moraxella catarrhalis
21.
State the purpose of principles of the following, and compare and contrast organisms and
test results
a. DNase
b. Tributryn
22.
Analyze pathogenicity and disease state of Moraxella catarrhalis
23.
Describe the immunoassays available to detect Moraxella catarrhalis
24.
Examine other organisms in the Moraxelleaceae family
25.
Evaluate colony morphology, test results, and other pertinent data to identify Moraxella
species
Required Reading Assignment:
1.
Mahon: Chapters 14, 15, 17
2.
MLS 478 Lecture Notes
Required References:
Mahon CR, Lehman DC, Manuselis G: Diagnostic Microbiology. 5th Ed. Maryland Heights,
Missouri, Saunders Elsevier, 2015.

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Aerobic Cocci
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Aerobic Cocci
Study Guide
1.
What is the principle behind the latex agglutination testing for
Staphylococcus species:

Bile Solubility

Vancomycin

Optochin

NaCl(6.5%)

Bile Esculin

PYR

LAP

Hydrolysis Hippurate

CAMP test

SXT

Bacitracin

Hemolysis

2.
Examine the significant identifying features of the following gram
positive cocci:

Strep
pyogenes
Strep
agalactiae
Strep equines
Enterococcus
Strep
pneumoniae
Strep viridans
Strep milleri
Abiotrophia
Granulicatella
Aerococcus
Helocococcus
Leuconostoc
Gemella
Pediococcus
Tetragenococ
cus
Lactococcus

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Bacitracin

Lysostaphin

Lysosome

Oxidase

PYR

Novobiocin

Polymyxin B

Coagulase

Catalase

Hemolysis
Staph aureus
Staph
saprophyticus
Staph
epidermidis
Staph
haemolyticus
Staph hominis
Staph warneri
Micrococcus

SXT

Bacitracin

3.
Compare and contrast the bacitracin and SXT results for the beta
Streps listed below:

Strep
pyogenes
Strep
agalactiae
Strep equines
Enterococcus
Strep
pneumoniae
Strep viridans

4.

Examine the pathogenicity of the following:

a. Streptococcus agalactiae:
b. Streptococcus pyogenes:
c. Streptococcus pneumoniae:
d. Streptococcus viridians group:
e. Enterococccus species:

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f. Pedicoccus:
g. Streptococcus milleri:
h. Staphylococcus aureus:
i. Staphylcoccus epidermidis:
j. Staphylococcus saprophyticus:
k. Micrococcus species:
l. Stomatococcus:

5.

Contrast the colony and microscopic morphology of Staphylococci

species and Streptococci species:
Staph:
Beta Strep:
Strep pneumoniae:
Enterococcus:

6.

7.

List tests to distinguish between Staphylococcus aureus and other

Staphylococci species:

What test best distinguishes Staphylococci from Streptococci:

8.

Discuss the types of hemolysis and what is happening to the RBCs:

9.

Does beta hemolysis always indicate the presence of Streptococci:

10.

Name three ways to identify Enterococcus:

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11. Describe the leucine aminopeptidase test (LAP) and list the
organisms it differentiates.

12. Discuss the significance of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus,

including how the genetic material is acquired:

13. Compare and contrast hospital acquired MRSA with community

acquired
MRSA:
Hospital-

Community-

14. Describe the virulence factors associated with Staph and Strep and
the
correlation to disease states:
Staph:

15.

Strep:

Give the principle of the rapid direct antigen Streptococcal test for
beta-hemolytic group A Streptococcus done on throat swabs for slide
agglutination and ELISA:
Slide agglutination
ELISA

16.

The historical capsular swelling used for the rapid identification of

Strep pneumoniae is also known as the
reaction.

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17. With Streptococcus pneumoniae, virulence is directly proportional to

the:
18.

Name three tests used in identifying Streptococcus pneumoniae:

19.

What substance present in the cell wall of Group A Beta Strep is

responsible for virulence of the organism?

20.

What role does Streptococcus pyogenes play in rheumatic fever?

21. Why does someone who has had a Strep throat infection get
another?

22.

Describe a secondary condition to a Strep throat infection.

23.

What is the antibiotic of choice in treating group A beta-hemolytic

Streptococci infections? What if the patient is allergic to the drug of
choice?

24.

Describe Staphylococcal food poisoning:

25.

Explain the difference between the slide and tube coagulase tests
and which type of coagulase does each measure?

26. Discuss the different testing methodology used in the identification

of MRSA:

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27.

What is the gram stain and morphology of Neisseria?

28. What antibiotics are in Modified Thayer Martin plates and what is the
purpose of
each?

29.

What tests are commonly used to differentiate species of Neisseria?

30.

Discuss the pathogenicity of Neisseria meningitidis:

31.

Indicate the significance of the meningococcal vaccination. Discuss

the serogroups that covered by the vaccination and those that are
not.

32.

Associate the specific serogroup of Neisseria meningitidis with

Waterhouse-Frederichsen syndrome.

33.

What non-culture tests are available to detect N.gonorrhoeae?

34. Describe two methods of performing the oxidase test and the
chemicals involved:

35.

Discuss the pathogenicity of Moraxella catarrhalis:

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36. Identify the tests and their methodology used in the identification
Moraxella catarrhalis.

37.

Compare and Contrast the different Neisseria meningitidis

serogroups and disease states they cause.
There are 13 meningococcal encapsulated serogroups, but strains A,
B, C, Y and W-135 are most often associated with epidemics.
Serogroup A-

Serogroup B and C-

Serogroup Y-

Serogroup W-135-

38. Describe the principle of the Superoxol test and organize the
different organisms it tests
for and their expected results.

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