How does staphylococcus aureus differ from staphylococcus epidermidis?
Staphylococcus aureus is coagulase positive whereas staphylococcus epidermidis is coagulase negative. Other coagulase negative staphylococci are S haemolyticus, S saccharolyticus, S hominis, S schleiferi, S lugdunensis and S simulans. Test Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus epidermidis Coagulase Positive Negative Clumping factor Positive Negative Heat stable nuclease Positive Negative Urease Variable Negative Acid from mannitol Positive Negative Acid from trehalose Positive Negative Ref: Textbook of Microbiology and Immunology By Parija, Pages 188-190
It is coagulase positive
It is a common cause of UTI
It forms white colonies on blood agar
It causes endocarditis in drug addicts