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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1968 March; 16(3): 519-523
Copyright © 1968 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Aerococcus viridans in the Hospital Environment¹

Department of Microbiology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
Laboratory Division, North Carolina State Board of Health, Raleigh, North Carolina

ABSTRACT

Aerococcus viridans has been described as an airborne organism prevalent in occupied rooms. It has also been described as an organism having many characteristics that might cause it to be confused with streptococci or staphylococci, and this may account for the fact that the presence of A. viridans has not been reported in the hospital environment or in clinical specimens. Swab specimens were taken from 47 objects in 11 different areas in a local hospital, cultured overnight in Trypticase Soy Broth, and streaked on blood-agar and on a selective serum agar containing potassium tellurite and crystal violet. Of 85 -hemolytic cultures isolated, 11 proved to be typical A. viridans based on diagnostic tests that also were applied to a collection of gram-positive cocci, including authentic strains of A. viridans. These organisms are gram-positive cocci with a strong tendency toward tetrad formation in broth cultures. They are predominantly aerobic, have a very weak catalase activity, and lack porphyrin respiratory enzymes. Three similar cultures also were obtained from routine clinical specimens.

² Recipient of a graduate scholarship from the North Carolina Public Health Association. This study was conducted as part of an M.S. thesis.

¹ Paper no. 2531 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station, Raleigh.