Difference Between Staph and Streptococcus

The main difference between Staphylococcus and Streptococcus is that Staphylococcus is a type of gram-positive bacteria that is found in clumps while streptococcus is a gram-positive bacteria that forms a short chain of round cells.

Staphylococcus vs. Streptococcus

The bacterium is a cosmopolitan microorganism that is found almost everywhere in the world. It may or may not be pathogenic. Bacteria are divided into different types on a different basis. According to Gram stain technique, bacteria are divided into two types i.e. gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are also two types of gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus is the bacteria found in grape-like clusters while streptococcus is found in the round chain of cells. Most staphylococci are nonpathogenic, while streptococci are mainly pathogenic. Staphylococci are present on the skin, but streptococci are present in the respiratory tract and cause multiple diseases.

Comparison chart

What is Staphylococcus ?

The word “Staphylococcus” is derived from the Greek word ” grapa ” meaning a bunch of grapes and ” kokkos “.What does berry mean? Under the microscope, it appears round in shape and is present in a cluster like a grape. It belongs to the Phylum Firmicutes. There are 40 known species of staphylococci that are found primarily on the skin and mucous membranes. They are mostly harmless to humans and other organisms. Some Staphylococcus have the ability to produce a special enzyme known as catalase. This enzyme converts hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water and oxygen and helps in blood coagulation: S. aureus, S. hyicus, S. Schleifer, S. intermedius. S. aureus and S. delphini are catalase positive, that is, they have the ability to produce the enzyme catalase. Some Staphylococcus are harmful and can cause infection directly or by producing toxins. Your infection includes the boil, it boils with pus and the infected area becomes swollen, painful and inflamed. It can be treated with antibiotics. Your infection can be prevented by cleaning, keeping wounds, scrapes, and cuts clean, proper handwashing, and avoiding close contact with infected people.

What is strep ?

The word “Streptococcus” is derived from the Greek word “streptos”, which means “easily bent or crooked”, and kokkos means “berry”. Streptococcus is also a gram-positive bacteria found in the form of a short chain of round cells. It also belongs to Phylum Firmicutes. They do not have catalase enzyme and are facultative anaerobes. There are 50 species of this genus recognized so far. Streptococci are divided into two groups, i.e. group A and group B. Group A includes bacteria that cause scarlet throat, impetigo (skin infection), cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease), strep throat, and toxic shock syndrome. Group B includes those that can cause pneumonia, meningitis in newborns, urinary tract infections, and blood infections.

Key differences

1. Staphylococci are gram-positive bacteria that are found in grape-like clusters, while streptococci are gram-positive bacteria that form a short chain of round cells.
2. Forty species of staphylococci have been identified, on the other hand, 50 species of streptococci have still been found.
3. Staphylococci divide in multiple directions (multiple axes) conversely, streptococci divide in a linear direction (single axis).
4. Staphylococcus does not require enriched media to grow on the other side; Streptococcus required enriched media for growth.
5. Staphylococci are present on the skin, while streptococci are present in the respiratory tract.
6. There is no hemolysis or beta hemolysis in the case of Staphylococcus, while streptococcus can cause alpha, beta or gamma hemolysis.
7. Staphylococcus causes food poisoning, bacterial conjunctivitis, skin diseases, surgical site infection, wound infection, impetigo, cellulitis, community-acquired meningitis, and toxic shock syndrome, but streptococcus causes strep throat, scarlet fever, impetigo, toxic shock syndrome , sinusitis, blood infections, pneumonia, cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (meat disease) and meningitis in newborns.
8. Pathogenic species of Staphylococcus are Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hominis , and Staphylococcus saprophyticus , etc.
9. Staphylococcus can be diagnosed by coagulase test, catalase test, and novobiocin susceptibility test, while streptococcus can be diagnosed by bile solubility test, optochin ( S. pneumoniae ) susceptibility test, catalase test, of bacitracin, CAMP test and hemolysis test, etc.
10. Catalase test shows positive results in case of Staphylococcus while it shows negative results in case of Streptococcus.

Final Thought

From the above discussion, it is summarized that both staphylococcus and streptococcus are gram-positive bacteria of round shape, but staphylococcus has cells arranged in groups while in streptococci the cells are arranged in a round chain-like structure. Furthermore, they also vary in their plane of division and medicinal importance, etc.