Acetoin Production in the Identification of Isolates as Members of Staphylococcus intermedius Hajek

A total of 50 staphylococcal strains of animal origin were identified as members of Staphylococcus intermedius Hájek on the basis that they possessed all of the characteristics originally reported by Hájek for S. intermedius except one, acetoin production. The Barritt method failed to demonstrate acetoin production by these isolates, whereas in the case of a micromethod in which pyruvate was used as substrate, acetoin production was detected. We discuss both the discrepancy observed between the results of the two methods and the taxonomic implications of our findings.