Staphylococcus xylosus

Staphylococcus xylosus is a species of bacteria belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. It is a Gram-positive bacterium that forms clusters of cells. Like most staphylococcal species, it is coagulase-negative and exists as a commensal on the skin of humans and animals and in the environment.^[1]

Staphylococcus xylosus
1000x magnification of a Gram-stained sample of Staphylococcus xylosus
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Kingdom:	Bacillati
Phylum:	Bacillota
Class:	Bacilli
Order:	Bacillales
Family:	Staphylococcaceae
Genus:	Staphylococcus
Species:	S. xylosus
Binomial name
Staphylococcus xylosus Schleifer & Kloos 1975

Staphylococcus xylosus may be used as CNC (coagulase-negative cocci) in salami fermentation.^[2]

It appears to be far more common in animals than in humans. S. xylosus has very occasionally been identified as a cause of human infection, but in some cases it may have been misidentified.

Identification

Staphylococcus xylosus is normally sensitive to fleroxacin, methicillin, penicillin, teicoplanin, erythromycin and tetracycline, and resistant to novobiocin. It is highly active biochemically, producing acid from a wide variety of carbohydrates.

Acid and gas are produced from D-(+)-galactose, D-(+)-mannose, D-(+)-mannitol, maltose, and lactose. Caseinolytic and gelatinase activities are normally present.

It normally produces slime but not capsules. This ability is lost upon subculture. Its cell wall peptidoglycan is similar to the L-Lys-Gly3-5 L-Ser0.6-1.5 type found in predominantly human species.

Clinical importance

Staphylococcus xylosus is a member of the skin flora of humans and other animals. It has been associated with:

• Nasal dermatitis in gerbils
• Pyelonephritis in humans
• Avian staphylococcosis
• Bovine intramammary infection

It is also found in milk, cheese, and sausage.