ABSTRACT
In 1893, Veillon first described what is today recognized as the anaerobic streptococcus. He recovered a strict anaerobic streptococcus, which he called Micrococcus foetidus, from a case of suppurative bartholinitis. The anaerobic streptococci are Gram-positive cocci that grow in chains, clumps, pairs, or even tetrads. Because of the extent of heterogeneity within the group, there is no characteristic pattern of fermentation. With the exception of the micro-aerophilic group, the peptostreptococci do not produce betahemolysis. Because of their proteolytic properties, the bacteria often produce large amounts of hydrogen sulfide from sulfur-containing amino acids, resulting in a putrefactive odor. Taxonomically, the peptostreptococci and the peptococci have recently been grouped together under the peptostreptococci. Because of the similarity of their pathogenic spectrum, the clinical distinctions between the two had never been sharply delineated. Morphologically, the peptococci are distinct from the peptostreptococci and are more properly thought of as the anaerobic staphylococci. They are larger than the peptostreptococci and, rather than aggregating in chains, tend to form clusters similar to their more aerobic counterparts.
