Staphylococcus vs Streptococcus- 20 Major Differences

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Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are Gram-positive and the two most common pathogenic cocci of medical importance.

Staphylococcus and Streptococcus Differences

They are both non-motile, non-sporing, and facultative anaerobes which can be differentiated on the following grounds:

S.N.

 Character Staphylococcus

Streptococcus
1.       Cellular Arrangement Spherical cells in clusters (grape like clusters). Spherical or ovoid cells in chains or pairs.
2.       Fission/Division Irregular division in all three planes. Division in one linear direction.
3.       Catalase Test Positive (Presence of catalase enzyme) Negative
4.       Halotolerance Halotolerant. Can tolerate upto 8% salt concentration. Inhibited by high concentration of salt.
5.       Capnophile No Yes
6.       Common Culture Media Used Mannitol Salt Agar

Nutrient Agar

 Blood Agar
7.       Growth on Ordinary Culture Media Possible Not possible
8.       Nutritional requirement Simple Complex (fastidious organism)
9.       Colony morphology 2-3 mm in diameter, circular, opaque golden yellow colonies  (Staphylococcus aureus) b-haemolysis ,1 mm, circular, tiny needle tip colonies (Streptococcus pyogenes)
10.    Hemolysis No hemolysis or beta hemolysis. Either alpha,or beta or gamma hemolysis.
11.    Species Number About 40 staphylococcal species have been identified so far. About 50 Streptococcal species  have been identified so far.
12.    Differentiation into groups By means of coagulase test. By means of hemolysis pattern in Blood Agar and group specific cell wall polysaccharide (Lancefield grouping).
13.    Species Differentiation – Coagulase test

– Novobiocin sensitivity test

– Biochemical tests

 – Type of hemolysis

– Cell wall carbohydrate group     (A, B, C, etc)

– Bile Solubility Test

– CAMPT Test

– Optochin Sensitivity Test
14.    Normal Flora Staphylococci are found mostly on the skin as commensals. Mucosal membrane of human and animals. Mostly found in the oral cavity and respiratory tract.
15.    Pathogens Most of the Staphylococcal species are non-pathogens. Streptococcus cause many diseases.
16.    Pathogenic Species Staphylococcus aureus,

Staphylococcus epidermidis,

Staphylococcus haemolyticus,

Staphylococcus hominis,

Staphylococcus saprophyticus, etc.

 Streptococcus pyogenes,

Streptococcus agalactiae,

Streptococcus bovis,

Streptococcus  pneumoniae, etc.
17.    Virulence Factors Polysaccharide capsule, slime layer, teicholic acid, lipoteicholic acid, adhesive proteins, clumping factor, protein A, exoenzymes ( DNase, hyalurinidase, phosphatase, lipase, exocoagulase, fibrinolysin), enterotoxin, exfoliative toxin, cytotoxins(a-haemolysin b- haemolysin d- haemolysin g-haemolysin, Leukocidin) Lipoteicholic acid, F-protein, capsule, exotoxin, streptolysin S and O (haemolysin), Exoenzymes (hyaluronidase ,DNase, streptokinase)
18.    Diseases caused Food poisoning,  bacterial conjunctivitis, skin diseases, community-acquired meningitis, Pneumonia, Surgical Site Infection, Wound infection,  impetigo, cellulitis, toxic shock syndrome, osteomyelitis and endocarditis. Strep throat, Scarlet fever, Impetigo, Toxic shock syndrome,

Cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating disease), sinusitis, blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns.
19.    Types of Symptoms

 

 The symptoms of the Staphylococcal infections can include fever, chills, low blood pressure and red, swollen, tender pimple-like bumps. The symptoms of a Streptococcal infection can include fever, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, rash, red and weeping skin sores, confusion, and dizziness.
20.    Treatment options Antibiotics like penicillin or methicillin if resistant. Vancomycin if MRSA. Penicillin / penicillin V amoxicillin

References

  1. Brooks, G. F., Jawetz, E., Melnick, J. L., & Adelberg, E. A. (2010). Jawetz, Melnick, & Adelberg’s medical microbiology. New York: McGraw Hill Medical.
  2. Parija S.C. (2012). Textbook of Microbiology & Immunology.(2 ed.). India: Elsevier India.
  3. Sastry A.S. & Bhat S.K. (2016). Essentials of Medical Microbiology. New Delhi : Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers.
  4. https://microbiologyinfo.com/differences-between-staphylococcus-and-streptococcus/
  5. http://www.fidanoski.ca/medicine/staphylococcus-streptococcus.htm http://pediaa.com/difference-between-streptococcus-and-staphylococcus/
  6. http://semmelweis.hu/mikrobiologia/files/2014/10/FGM_06.pdf
  7. http://www.uwyo.edu/virtual_edge/lab16/staphstrep_background.htm

Differences between Staphylococcus and Streptococcus

About Author

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Sagar Aryal, PhD

Dr. Sagar Aryal is a microbiologist, researcher, and science communicator from Nepal. He is also co-founder and Research Head of the Department of Natural Products at the Kathmandu Research Institute for Biological Sciences (KRIBS), where he leads research on natural product discovery and microbial biodiversity. Dr. Aryal earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, in 2025, supported by a DAAD Research Grant and a University Grants Commission (UGC) Nepal Ph.D. Fellowship. His research interests include Actinomycetes, Myxobacteria, microbial taxonomy, and natural products, particularly the discovery of bioactive compounds with potential pharmaceutical applications. He isolated and identified Nocardia nepalensis, a novel bacterial species from Nepal, contributing to understanding microbial diversity in the region. Dr. Aryal has published more than 16 research articles in international journals and contributed three book chapters to established academic publications. He has presented scientific research findings and developed international research collaborations through visits to more than 18 countries across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. From 2023 to 2025, he served as the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Young Ambassador to Nepal. Since December 2025, he has served as an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports, a Nature Portfolio journal. In recognition of his scientific contributions, Dr. Aryal received the NAST Science and Technology Youth Award 2025 from the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology. He previously received the Frs. Locke and Stiller Research Award (LSRA) for the 2017-2018 cycle from St. Xavier's College, Kathmandu, and a Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) Research Grant for 2017-2018. Alongside his scientific career, Dr. Aryal has more than 15 years of experience in blogging, content writing, and search engine optimization (SEO).