Pneumococcus

for mbbs students

1. STREPTOCOCCI

2. •
•Streptococci
–Gram positive cocci
–chains or pairs
–catalase negative
–facultative anaerobe
(staphylococci are catalase positive)

3. Streptococcus in chains

4. groupablestreptococci
A, B and D
–most important
C, G, F
–rare

5. hemolysis reaction -sheep blood agar
(alpha)
–partial hemolysis
green color
(beta)
–complete clearing
–A and B
(gamma)
–no lysis

6. Classification according to hemolysis
Groups A an B
–
Group D
–or 
S. pneumoniaeand viridans
–

7. PNEUMOCOCCUS:
Streptococcus pneumoniae

8. Introduction
Pneumococci are normal commensals of the
upper respiratory tract
Important pathogen of pneumonia & otitis media
Reclassified as Streptococcus pneumoniae
Differ from Streptococci in morphology, bile
solubility, optochin sensitivity & capsule

9. MORPHOLOGY
Gram positive cocci
Flame shaped/lanceolate apperance with
one end broad and the other pointed.
They are arranged in pairs (diplococci)
They are capsulated, nonsporing and
nonmotile.
The capsule is visualised with Indian ink
negative staining.

10. India-ink preparation
Gram stain preparation

12. Streptococcus pneumoniae
(diplococcus). Fluorescent stain

13. CULTURAL CHARECTERSTICS
Pneumococci are fastidious.
They grows only on enriched media.
They are aerobic and facultative anaerobic.
Grows at optimum temperature of 37º C.
The growth is enhanced by the presence of
5-10% Co2.

14. Growth on blood agar:
–Colonies are small, dome shaped.
–With area of green discolouration (alpha
hemolysis) around them.
–On further incubation,
Concentric rings are seen on the surface when viewed
from above (draughtsman and carrom coin appearance)

15. Beta hemolytic Alpha haemolytic streptococci

16. Colonies on blood agar after 18 hrs incubation

17. Blood agar plate showing draughtsman colonies
of pneumococcus on prolonged incubation

18. BIOCHEMICAL REACTION
Catalase negative.
Fermentation of inulinby Pneumococci is
used for differentiating them from other
streptococci as the later does not ferment it.
They are bile soluble.
Optochin sensitive

21. 21
Notoptochin sensitive
optochin sensitive

22. •Most rapid & most useful: identifies & specifies
type of pneumococci in sputum, spinal fluid,
exudates or culture
•Pneumococcal specimen mixed with (polyvalent)
antipneumococcla serum & methylene blue:
•Positive result: Refractile & swollen capsule under oil
immersion
Quellung Reaction

24. ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE
The most important antigen of the
Pneumococci is:
–Capsular polysaccharide
–Somatic M protein
–Cell wall cabohydrates(C-substance)

25. CAPSULAR POLYSACCHRIDES
This is type specific.
Pneumococci are classified into types based on the
nature of capsular polysaccharide.
More than 90 serotypes are recognized.
The virulence of Pneumococci is dependent upon its
capsule which prevents or inhibits phagocytosis.
The antibody of capsular polysaccharide protects
against infection.

26. M Protein
M Protein is characteristics for each type of
Pneumococci.
It is not associated with virulence and
antibody to M Protein is non protective.

27. C-Substance
Pneumococci contain a species
carbohydrate antigen which is named as C-
Substance.
It is also detected in blood of patients with
some illness , this is known as C-Reactive
protein (CRP).

28. TOXINS AND OTHER VIRULENCE
FACTORS.
Pneumococci produce an:
–Hemolysin.
–Leucocidin
-Pneumolysin, is a toxin produced by
Pneumococci.
–It has cytolytic and complement activating
properties.
–It is immunogenic.

29. Pneumococcal disease
Clinical manifestations
Pneumonia
Bacteremia
Meningitis

30. PATHOGENESIS
Pneumococcus is one of the most common
bacteria causing pneumonia.
–Lobar pneumonia
–bronchopneumonia

31. Meningitis
It is most serious of pneumococcal infection.
It is the second most important cause of
pyogenic meningitis afterN.meningitidis.
Common in children.
Spreads from the pharynx to the meninges
via blood stream.

32. Other infections
Pneumococci may also produce:
–Empyema
–Pericarditis
–Otitis media
–Peritonitis
–suppurative arthritis.

33. Laboratory Diagnosis
Samples :according to site
Collect and transport
Direct microscopy
Culture and identification
Antibiotic sensitivity

34. Inhibition by optochin
Growth of colonies of Streptococcus
pneumoniae is inhibited by optochin contained in
the disk applied to the blood agar plate
Lysis by bile salts:
Bile salt such as sodium deoxycholate, dissolves
Streptococcus pneumoniae and clear the
turbidity of the heavy inoculum of organisms
Quellungreaction
Capsule of Streptococcus pneumoniae
swells in the presence of specific
pneumococcal antiserum
Morphology
They are gram positive cocciarranged in pairs.
Lanconateshaped
Capsulated organism

35. 35
GRAM POSITIVE COCCI
S. aureus
Beta hemolytic
mannitol
yellow
+ -
Staphylococcus(Clusters) Streptococcus(pairs & chains)
Catalase
BETA: Bacitracin S.pyogenes(group A)
CAMP/Hippurate S. agalactiae(group B)
Coagulase
S. epidermidis
Non-hemolytic
mannitol
white
ALPHA: Optochin/Bile Solubility S.pneumoniae
GAMMA OR ALPHA: Bile Esculin 6.5% NaCl Group D
Enterococcus
Bile Esculin 6.5% NaCl Group D
Non-Enterococcus
Note: S. viridansis
ALPHA hemolytic and
negative for all the tests
below
+
+
+
++
+
+
-
-
Summary Figure (Identification Scheme)
Hemolysis/Test