This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Smith, P. B. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Smith, P. B.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

J Bacteriol. 1962 November; 84(5): 1016-1019
Copyright © 1962, The Williams & Wilkins Company. All Rights Reserved.

GROWTH OF STAPHYLOCOCCI ON MERCURIC CHLORIDE AGAR

Communicable Disease Center, U.S. Public Health Service, Atlanta, Georgia

ABSTRACT

SMITH, P. B. (Communicable Disease Center, Atlanta, Ga.). Growth of staphylococci on mercuric chloride agar. J. Bacteriol. 84:1016–1019. 1962.—An attempt has been made to corroborate a report that "epidemic" strains of staphylococci are more resistant to mercuric salts than are "nonepidemic" strains. A comparison of mercury resistance with coagulase production and phage type or pattern of 493 staphylococcal strains revealed that nearly half of the coagulase-negative strains tested were mercury-resistant, whereas many "epidemic" strains of certain phage types were sensitive to mercuric salts. Results obtained are compared with those from a previous investigation. The mercury resistance of some strains was found to vary significantly depending on the basal medium used; this could not be correlated with mercapto-group content of the medium. The data indicate that a medium containing mercuric chloride would have little practical value at the present time for the average laboratory engaged in isolating staphylococci.