Gram Positive & Gram Negative

Cocci Infections
(Staphylococcus,
Streptococcus, Neisseria)

 Gram-positive cocci especially

Staphylococcus spp. are living and
reproducing on almost every square
inch of our skin. They are members of
every humans microbiota, and usually
unnoticed. However, they can be
pathogen, causing minor to lifethreatening diseases.

Staphylococcus aureus (Gram stain)

Staphylococcus aureus (BAP)

(Golden pigmen)

Staphylococcus aureus
Mannitol Salt Agar

Catalase test

Coagulase test
(slide)
Coagulase test
(tube)

 Reseachers differentiate species of

Streptococci using several different
overlapping schemes, including:
serological based on the reactions of
antibodies to specific bacterial antigens,
type of hemolysis (, , or -hemolysis),
cell arrangement, and
physiological properties as revealed by
biochemical tests.

Streptococcus pyogenes

Streptococcus pneumoniae

(Gram stain)

(Gram stain)

From broth culture

 (total) hemolysis
(partial)
hemolysis

Optochin test

Bacitracin test

CAMP test

 Neisseria is the only genus of Gram

negative cocci that cause diseases in
humans. The cells of these bacteria are
nonmotile and typically arranged as
diplococci (pairs) with their common sides
flattened like coffee beans.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
(Gram stain)

Oxidase (+)

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
(Thayer Martin medium)

Candle jar

 Staphylococcus:
S. aureus and S. epidermidis are found on the
skin and in upper respiratory, gastrointestinal,
and urogenital tracts. S. aureus is the more
virulent, partly because of its production of
various enzymes such as coagulase and
staphylokinase, and several toxins.
Food poisoning is a noninvasive disease
caused by Staphylococcus. Skin diseases
caused by this bacteria include scalded skin
syndrome, impetigo, folliculitis, furuncles, and
carbuncles.

 Potentially fatal systemic infections

caused by Staphylococcus include toxic
shock syndrome (TSS), bacteremia,
endocarditis, pneumonia, empyema, and
osteomyelitis.

 Streptococcus
Cells of group A streptococcus (S. pyogenes)
produce protein M and hyaluronic acid
capsule, each of which contributes to the
virulence of the species. Enzymes and toxins
produced by S. pyogenes dissolve blood
clots, stimulate fever, and lyse blood cells.
The diseases caused by S. pyogenes include
streptococcal sore throat, scarlet fever,
pyoderma, erysipelas, streptococcal TSS,
necrotizing fasciitis, rheumatic fever, and
glomerulonephritis.

 Group B streptococci (S. agalactiae) are

normal flora of lower gastrointestinal and
urogenital tracts. They are associated with
neonatal infections and usually are sensitive
to penicillin.
The viridans group of -hemolytic streptococci
include members that inhabit mouth, pharynx,
GI tract, UG tract; cause dental caries, and
can enter the blood and cause bacteremia,
meningitis, and endocarditis.
Enterococci are normal flora of the intestines,
that can cause nosocomial infections.

 Virulent strains of S. pneumoniae are

protected by polysaccharide capsules. The
bacteria secrete protein adhesion, secretory
IgA protease and pneumolysin which lyses
cells of the lungs. Pneumonia is the most
prevalent disease caused by S. pneumoniae.
Symptoms are fever, breathing difficulty, chest
pain and rusty-colored sputum. The bacteria
can be identified by the production of
hemolysin, inhibition of growth by optochin,
bile salt solubility, and serological reaction
(quellung). Other diseases include sinusitis,
otitis media, bacteremia, endocarditis, and
meningitis.

 Neisseria
Neisseria is a pathogenic Gram negative
coccus; its virulence results from the
presence of fimbriae, polysaccharide
capsules, and lipooligosaccharide
containing lipid A in its cell wall.

 Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes gonorrhea, a

sexually transmitted disease (STD) of
humans. In men it results in acute
inflammation of the urethra, whereas in
women it is generally asymptomatic. It can
infect the uterus and uterine tubes to cause
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
Neisseria meningitidis causes a type of
meningitis; it is transmitted on respiratory
droplets and is life-threatening when it enters
the bloodstream or central nervous system.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR

ATTENTION