Granulicatella and Abiotrophia species from human clinical specimens

One hundred one isolates of nutritionally variant streptococci from 97 pati ents were phenotypically characterized and compared with the type strains o f Granulicatella adiacens (formerly Abiotrophia adiacens) (ATCC 49175(T)) A biotrophia defectiva (ATCC 49176(T)), and Granulicatella elegans (formerly Abiotrophia elegans) (DSM 11693(T)). Of the isolates, 55 and 43 resembled G . adiacens and A. defectiva, respectively, while 3 strains resembled G. ele gans. Phenotypic characteristics useful in differentiating between species within the genera Granulicatella and Abiotrophia (G. adiacens, G. elegans, Granulicatella balaenopterae, and A. defectiva) were production of alpha- a nd beta -galactosidase; production of beta -glucuronidase; hippurate hydrol ysis; arginine dihydrolase activity; and acid production from trehalose, su crose, pullulan, and tagatose. From the reports submitted with the specimen s, the clinical diagnosis was endocarditis in 58% of patients and septicemi a or bacteremia in 26% of patients.