Foot ulcer: group B streptococcus (non-hemolytic) – Shipped February 2013
HISTORY
The challenge was sent to category A laboratories. The sample was a simulated wound swab taken from a 60 year old diabetic man with a foot ulcer.
Laboratories were expected to isolate, identify, and report group B streptococcus.
MAIN EDUCATIONAL POINTS from M124-5
- The presence or absence of beta-hemolysis approach to identification may make it difficult to correctly identify non-hemolytic strains of streptococcal species that are usually supposed to be beta-hemolytic.
- Non-hemolytic strains are as equally virulent as the beta hemolytic strains.
CMPT is a program of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. Canada.