Rapid distinction between micrococci and staphylococci with furazolidone agars

Abstract

Furazolidone agar proved to be a suitable medium for separating strains of the genera Micrococcus and Staphylococcus. 720 isolates (including 24 type strains) of gram- and catalase-positive cocci were tested for growth on tryptone soya and peptone agar with the addition of 50 μg/ml furazolidone. The results were compared with the classification obtained by the standard-O/F-test and by the test system of Schleifer and Kloos. For routine identification and separation of staphylococci from micrococci a peptone agar with 20 μg furazolidone/ml is recommended.