Peptostreptococcus spp. (and Finegoldia magna)

Paul G. Auwaerter, M.D.
Peptostreptococcus spp. (and Finegoldia magna) is a topic covered in the Johns Hopkins ABX Guide.

To view the entire topic, please or .

Pediatrics Central™ is an all-in-one application that puts valuable medical information, via your mobile device or the web, in the hands of clinicians treating infants, children, and adolescents. Explore these free sample topics:

-- The first section of this topic is shown below --

MICROBIOLOGY

  • Anaerobic Gram-positive cocci: part of the normal flora of the mouth, GI and GU tracts as well as skin.
  • A heterogeneous group of "anaerobic streptococci" now classified into 5 groups and changes in the taxonomy that can be confusing.
    • For example, Finegoldia magna is the former Peptosteptococcus magnus.
  • Small cocci, may be seen on Gram stain in short chains and pairs.
    • GPC seen may appear identical to aerobic streptococci (chains) or staphylococci (clusters) [Fig].
    • Non-spore forming
  • Peptostreptococcus (which includes the former Peptococcus) account for nearly all anaerobic GPC except Finegoldia magna.
  • Most common and important: Finegoldia magna, P. asaccharolyticus.
    • Less common: P. micros, P. anaerobius.
  • Note: microaerophilic streptococci such as Streptococcus intermedius Group are pathogenic, often important in mixed infections. They are not Peptostreptococci and are not sensitive to metronidazole.

-- To view the remaining sections of this topic, please or --

MICROBIOLOGY

  • Anaerobic Gram-positive cocci: part of the normal flora of the mouth, GI and GU tracts as well as skin.
  • A heterogeneous group of "anaerobic streptococci" now classified into 5 groups and changes in the taxonomy that can be confusing.
    • For example, Finegoldia magna is the former Peptosteptococcus magnus.
  • Small cocci, may be seen on Gram stain in short chains and pairs.
    • GPC seen may appear identical to aerobic streptococci (chains) or staphylococci (clusters) [Fig].
    • Non-spore forming
  • Peptostreptococcus (which includes the former Peptococcus) account for nearly all anaerobic GPC except Finegoldia magna.
  • Most common and important: Finegoldia magna, P. asaccharolyticus.
    • Less common: P. micros, P. anaerobius.
  • Note: microaerophilic streptococci such as Streptococcus intermedius Group are pathogenic, often important in mixed infections. They are not Peptostreptococci and are not sensitive to metronidazole.

There's more to see -- the rest of this entry is available only to subscribers.

Last updated: September 5, 2020