Evaluation of three test procedures for identification of Staphylococcus aureus from clinical sources

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Abstract
A total of 520 clinical and environment isolates of the family Micrococcaceae that fermented glucose anaerobically were tested for their ability to produce coagulase, thermostable nuclease and DNase. Of these, 450 isolates coagulated rabbit plasma, produced thermostable nuclease and were identified as S. aureus, 447 of which produced a 3+ to 4+ clot. The remaining 3 isolates produced a 2+ clot, DNase and thermostable nuclease. Three of the S. aureus isolates failed to produce DNase. A total of 70 isolates which did not coagulate rabbit plasma and which were thermostable nuclease negative were identified as S. epidermidis. Three of them produced DNase. It is suggested that the thermostable nuclease test be performed on all isolates producing a 2+ (or 1+) clot in the coagulase test before identifying them as S. aureus.