This question resulted from complaints from physicians that our lab
does not isolate S. pneumoniae from respiratory specimens as frequently as
they feel we should. We currently eye ball alpha streps for typical
morphology before pursuing definitive ID from a pure culture. I recently
read that it was near next to impossible to screen for S. pneumoniae this
way. I was looking for a reference to use the optochin on the initial
inoculum as an additonal screening to eye balling the morphology and not
to replace definitive identification from a pure culture. I do not like
the method of placing a drop of NA deoxycholate on the plate. If a the
optochin disc looks suspicious we will pursue the culture further. I
received a number of responses several of which indicate this method is
already being used.
Thank you for your response.
