A commercially available streptococcal identification system, Rapid STREP (API System S.A., Montalieu-Vercieu, France), was used to identify 119 viridans strains at the species level. A total of 92% of the strains tested were identified correctly with the Rapid STREP system, and 81% of the correct identifications were made at percentages of identification of 90 or greater. From these data it ap...

BACKGROUND In patients, rapid identification of bacterial species may help to guide treatment at early stages. New protocols for the identification directly from positive blood culture flasks significantly helped in the presented case report. CASE PRESENTATION Two patients (a father and son) presented with diarrhea, malaise, and fever of 3 to 4 days duration. Blood cultures from both patients...