Trioleoylglycerol lipolysis by Staphylococcus aureus strains from recurrent furunculosis, pyomyositis, impetigo and osteomyelitis.

Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from 94 patients with recurrent furunculosis, chronic osteomyelitis, tropical pyomyositis and impetigo were investigated for lipase activity after growth 1, 2 and 5 days in aerated casein hydrolysate-yeast extract. As substrate for lipase activity a tri-3H-oleoylglycerol emulsion was used. Phage group II staphylococci isolated from furunculosis had the highest lipase activity and on day 5 these strains differed significantly in activity from strains isolated from the other infections. Strains isolated from impetigo had a remarkably low lipase production. The quantitative difference in lipase production of various S. aureus strains may reflect the localization of the lesion.