Background
Microbiology
- Genus of non-branching, catalase positive Gram-positive bacilli
- Often over-decolorized
Identification
| Organism | Width >1 μm | Wide Zone Lecithinase | Spores Swell Sporangium | VP Test | Ferments Mannitol | Ferments Xylose | Anaerobic Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacillus anthracis | + | + | – | + | – | – | + |
| Bacillus cereus | + | + | – | + | – | – | + |
| Bacillus subtilis | – | – | – | + | + | + | – |
| Paenibacillus species | – | – | + | ± | ± | ± | + |
Clinical Presentation
| Species | Disease |
|---|---|
| Bacillus anthracis | anthrax |
| Bacillus cereus | food poisoning, central line infections |
References
- ^ V. A. Luna, D. S. King, J. Gulledge, A. C. Cannons, P. T. Amuso, J. Cattani. Susceptibility of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus pseudomycoides and Bacillus thuringiensis to 24 antimicrobials using Sensititre(R) automated microbroth dilution and Etest(R) agar gradient diffusion methods. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2007;60(3):555-567. doi:10.1093/jac/dkm213.
