Gram positive

cocci
Caballero, Bermond D.
 Question # 1
Which of the following is a gram positive, catalase
positive organism that causes UTI in sexually active
adolescents?

A. Staphylococcus epidermidis
B. Streptococcus agalactiae
C. Staphylococcus saprophyticus
D. Neisseria gonorrhea
 Answer # 1
D. Staphylococcus saprophyticus
• Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are gram-positive while
Neisseria is gram-negative
• Staphylococcus is catalase positive while Streptococcus is
catalase negative
• In terms of infections:
– Staphylococcus epidermidis causes endocarditis, prosthetic device
infections
– Staphylococcus saprophyticus causes Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
in sexually active adolescents (esp. women)
 Question #2
A gram-positive coccus that is catalase positive,
nonmotile, lysostaphin resistant, and modified
oxidase positive is best identified as a member of
the genus

A. Staphylococcus
B. Micrococcus
C. Streptococcus
D. Lactococcus
 Answer # 2
B. Micrococcus
• They are all gram-positive cocci
• Streptococcus and Lactococcus are catalase-negative
• Staphylococcus and Micrococcus are catalase-positive
• Staphylococcus is lysostaphin sensitive and modified
oxidase negative
• Micrococcus is lysostaphin resistant and modified
oxidase positive
 Question # 3
Which of the following are the common members of
the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract:
1. Viridans streptococci 2. Streptococcus agalactiae
3.Streptococcus pneumoniae 4. Group D streptococcus

A. 1 and 2 B. 1 and 3
C. 3 and 4 D. 3 and 2
 Answer # 3
B. 1 (Viridan’s streptococci) and 3 (Streptococcus
pneumoniae)
• 1 (Viridans streptococci) are normal flora of the oral cavity,
upper respiratory tract and gastrointestinal mucosa.
• 2 (Streptococcus agalactiae) is a normal flora of the
gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals.
• 3 (Streptococcus pneumoniae) is a normal upper
respiratory tract flora but can cause Lobar pneumonia,
Otitis media and meningitis.
• 4 (Group D streptococcus) is a normal fecal and oral flora.
 Question # 4
Which of the following gram-positive, catalase-negative
organisms is bacitracin-resistant, Na-hippurate-negative
and optochin-sensitive

A. Streptococcus pyogenes
B. Streptococcus agalactiae
C. Enterococcus (group D)
D. Streptococcus pneumoniae
 Answer # 4
D. Streptococcus pneumoniae
• S. agalactiae, Enterococcus and S. pneumoniae are
bacitracin-resistant while S. pyogenes is bacitracin-
sensitive.
• Enterococcus and S. Pneumoniae are Na-hippurate-
negative while S. agalactiae is Na-hippurate-positive.
• S. pneumoniae is optochin-sensitive while Enterococcus is
optochin-resistant.
 Question # 5
Which of the following virulence factors dissolves
clot?

A. Hyaluronic acid
B. Streptolysin O
C. Streptolysin S
D. Streptokinase
 Answer # 5
D. Streptokinase

• Hyaluronic acid capsule inhibits phagocytosis

• Streptolysin O and Streptolysin S lyses erythrocyes,
platelets and neutrophils
• Streptokinase breaks down clots
 References:

Ciulla Anna P: SUCCESS in Clinical Laboratory

Science (4th edition)

Tille, P. M., & Forbes, B. A. (2014). Bailey & Scott's

diagnostic microbiology (Thirteenth edition.). St. Louis,
Missouri: Elsevier.