The Reagent Used to Distinguish Staphylococci from Streptococci Is

Question

The reagent used to distinguish staphylococci from streptococci is
A) Hydrogen peroxide
B) Fibronectin
C) Fibrinogen
D) Oxidase

Accepted Answer

The staphylococci are aerobic while the streptococci are aerotolerant anaerobes. Streptococci ferment even in the presence of full oxygen and lack catalase. A standard quick test is the test mixing staphylococci with hydrogen peroxide. The generation of oxygen bubbles indicates that a Gram-positive coccus is a Staphylococcus rather than a Streptococcus. A coagulase test using serum to see if fibrinogen is clotted is used to distinguish the coagulasepositive staphylococci from coagulase-negative staphylococci. Oxidase is not the reagent but the reactor in the oxidase test.