Methods. α-hemolytic streptococcal isolates identified as pneumococcus
and isolates suspected to be pneumococci were used in the
comparisons of identification methods. S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus
influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were used to test the survival
of these bacteria in the STGG medium. Several phenotypic (optochin
sensitivity, bile solubility, capsular quellung reaction) and genetechnological
(a PCR based on virulence genes ply, psaA and lytA; a realtime
ply PCR combined with melting curve analysis; AccuProbe and
ARDRA) methods were used. A bacterial culture was used to detect
bacteria in the STGG medium.
Results. A typical S. pneumo