ABSTRACT
Human infections caused by Gram-positive organisms have increased over the years, both as nosocomial infections and community acquired infections, so it is imperative that these organisms are identified as expeditiously as possible. However, because of the sheer multitude of Gram-positive organisms implicated in disease, identification can be challenging. Certainly the advent of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has given clinical laboratories the tool to quickly identify organisms, but this technology is expensive and may not be suited for midsize to smaller clinical microbiology laboratories. What follows is a synopsis of identification tests for Gram-positive organisms that can make the process easier.
