title: Classification of coagulase-negative staphylococci of human origin.
abstract: A total of 191 coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from man were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis on the basis of their biochemical properties. When classified according to the classification scheme suggested by BAIRD-PARKER (1972), 144 of the strains were found to belong to biotype 1, one strain was biotype 2, and four were biotype 3; the remaining 42 strains could not be classified within any of the 4 biotypes of this scheme. Using the classification scheme suggested by PELZER et al. (1973), 158 strains were found to belong to subgroup IIb, one was subgroup IIIb, four were subgroup IV, and 28 were subgroup V, with no strains remaining unclassified. The biochemical properties of the strains were not related to the site of isolation except that urease was produced by only 15 per cent of strains isolated from pus but by 81-92 per cent of strains isolated from a variety of other sources. The majority of the strains (64 per cent) were resistant to penicillin, while 72 per cent were sensitive to streptomycin.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003030:Coagulase / Q000032:analysis; D004423:Ear / Q000382:microbiology; D005123:Eye / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000382:microbiology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D013492:Suppuration; D014510:Urease / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003030:Coagulase; D014510:Urease