Pseudocoagulase activity of staphylococci

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Abstract
Strains (245) of staphylococci isolated from various pathological specimens derived from cases of human infections were tested for staphylocoagulase activity. Test systems employing normal citrated rabbit plasma and the same substrate supplemented with inhibitors of thrombin and proteolytic enzymes (but not influencing the staphylocoagulase activity) were used for testing suspensions of bacteria and cell-free culture supernatants. A total of 237 strains clotted normal rabbit plasma; addition of Trasylol and heparin resulted in positive results in 222 strains; plasma supplemented with Trasylol and hirudin was coagulated by 173 strains. Proteolytic enzymes of staphylococci may interfere with staphylocoagulase-induced clotting and may simulate coagulase-positive activity of staphylococci. To avoid such false results, a test system for detection of staphylocoagulase should include proteolytic enzyme inhibitors.