Micrococci

These are Gram positive cocci which occur mostly in pairs, tetras or irregular clusters.

In biochemical reactions micrococci are catalase and oxidase positive. They are aerobic with a strictly respiratory metabolism.

If we consider staining to identification, micrococci resemble staphylococci but in stained smears the cells are generally larger and more Gram variable than staphylococci.In culture they form small colonies. The biochemical test used to differentiate staphylococci and micrococci is the Hugh and Leifson’s oxidation fermentation test in which micrococci show oxidative and staphylococci show fermentative patterns.

Gaurav Singh

Editor in Chief Medical Microbiology & RDT Labs - RDT Labs Magazine | BSc Medical Microbiology | MSc Microbiology

Leave a Reply