Carbohydrate dissimilation tests in the identification of staphylococci.

Reproducible and comparable results were obtained in different media containing different nutrients and indicators when representative Staphylococcus strains were tested for acid production from carbohydrates. Only in tests with melezitose, ribose and turanose many discrepant, weak or delayed positive reactions occurred. In tests with other carbohydrates similarly many weak results were visible after 1 day of incubation, but acid reactions were clear and easy to read after 2 days in phenol red broth and Andrade peptone water media, commonly used in the routine identification of other bacterial genera. Important alkalinization effects were observed after prolonged incubation, but not after short periods up to 24 h in peptone-rich test media. Growth was poor and numbers of acid reactions from carbohydrate breakdown detected did not increase when peptone-free media were used.