TOLERANCE OFSTAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUSTO SODIUM CHLORIDE

Parfentjev , I. A. (Institute of Applied Biology, New York, N.Y.),and Anna R. Catelli . Tolerance ofStaphylococcus aureus to sodium chloride. J. Bacteriol.88: 1–3. 1964.—The tolerance ofStaphylococcus aureus to high concentrations of sodium chloride in liquid medium has been reported. We found thatS. aureus grows at 37 C in Tryptose Phosphate Broth saturated with sodium chloride. No difference was noticed between possibly pathogenic and nonpathogenic strains. Under the conditions of our tests, no changes in the original properties ofS. aureus strains occurred. In contrast, solutions of sodium chloride in distilled water were injurious to staphylococci and killed most of these organisms in 1 hr. Staphylococci were killed faster at 37 C than at room temperature in a solution of 0.85% sodium chloride in water. Addition of traces of Tryptose Phosphate Broth had a protective effect and prolonged the life of these organisms in physiological saline. All tests were performed at pH 7.2.