Staphylococci

(staph) Staphylococci are relatively thermo-, digestive enzyme- and dehydration-resistant germs. They are gram-positive, faeculatively anaerobic (but capable of synthesizing cytochromes under aerobic conditions), non-endospore-forming spherical bacteria. (staphyle = grape, grape-shaped cell aggregates) Their pathogenic representatives are also responsible for various forms of food poisoning and pus formation. They are recognizable by their often yellow pigmentation (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus) and are identified by serological tests. http://www.wasser-wissen.de/abwasserlexikon/s/staphylokokken.htm