Streptococcus vs Staphylococcus | 20 Key Differences

Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria are widely found in humans and animals. They are non-motile, do not undergo spore formation, and are even facultative anaerobes.

But there are many differences between Streptococcus vs Staphylococcus bacteria as seen in the table below.

Streptococcus vs Staphylococcus

Sl.No	Features	Streptococcus	Staphylococcus
1	Bacteria type	Streptococcus is a Gram-positive bacteria, forming a short-chain.	Staphylococcus is also a gram-positive bacteria, but it forms cluster shape.
2	Taxonomical Classification	Class: Bacilli Order: Lactobacillales Family: Streptococcaceae Genus: Streptococcus	Class: Bacilli Order: Bacillales Family: Staphylococcaceae Genus: Staphylococcus
3	Cell Arrangement	The Streptococcus cells are arranged by single-chain containing spherical cells.	The Staphylococcus cells are arranged in grapes, like clusters, also present in tetrads, short chains.
4	Site of infection in humans and animals	The habitat of Streptococcus in animals is the respiratory tract and mouth.	The habitat of Staphylococcus in animals is the skin and other outer coverings.
5	Multiplication	The multiplication of the streptococcus by binary fission is in a linear way along a single axis only.	While the multiplication of the Staphylococcus by binary fission occurs in multiple ways due to various axes.
6	Number of Species	Approximately 50 different types of Streptococcal species are identified.	Nearly 40 different species of Staphylococcal species are identified.
7	Pathogenesis	Most of the Streptococcal species are pathogenic.	Some of the Staphylococci species are pathogenic.
8	Growth Media	Streptococcus bacteria require enriched media to grow.	The Staphylococcus does not need enriched media to grow.
9	Aerobic/Anaerobic c	Most of the streptococcus species are facultative anaerobes, but some of them are obligate anaerobes.	Most of the Staphylococcus species are aerobes, but some of them are facultative anaerobes.
10	Fastidious	The Streptococcus organisms are fastidious i.e. require special nutrients or conditions.	The Staphylococcus organisms are not fastidious.
11	Pigments	The Streptococcus organisms do not produce any pigments while growing in the media.	Staphylococcus organisms do produce the golden-yellow colored pigment while growing in the media.
12	Infectious Discharge type	Serous discharge is produced by the Streptococcus organism to cause an infection, because of enzyme Streptodornase	Purulent discharge is the type produced by the Staphylococcus organisms to cause an infection
13	Hemolysis type	Either Alpha, Beta, or Gamma hemolysis occurs. 1) Alpha Hemolysis: The colony appears as a dark and greenish color. 2) Beta Hemolysis: The colony appears as lightened yellow color. 3) Gamma Hemolysis: The colony undergoes unchanged.	No hemolysis or sometimes Beta hemolysis occurs.
14	Genome	The genome sizes of the Streptococcus are 1.8 to 2.3 Mb, and encoded1, 700 to 2,300 proteins.	The Genome sizes of the Staphylococcus are 1 to 2.5 Mb.
15	Bacteriophages	The Streptococcus organisms are susceptible to bacteriophages.	The Staphylococcus organisms are not susceptible to the bacteriophages.
16	Toxin	They cannot produce the toxins but they can cause severe infections.	The Staphylococcus are able to produce the toxins to cause some infections in humans.
17	Group classification	The Streptococcus organism is divided into 7 groups, 1) Group A: S.pyogenes 2) Group B: S.agalactiae 3) Group C: S.equi 4) Group D: S. faecalis 5) Group F: S. anginosus 6) Group G: S. canis 7) Group H: S. bovis	The Staphylococcus organisms are divided into 3 groups, 1) Group A: S.aureus 2) Group B: S. arlettae 3) Group C: S. delphini
18	Catalase production	Streptococcus organisms cannot produce the catalase enzyme, so the negative results occur in the catalase test.	Staphylococcus organisms produce the catalase enzyme; it gives positive results for the catalase test.
19	Pathogenic Species	The most pathogenic species are Streptococcus pneumonia, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus agalactiae.	The most pathogenic species are Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus saprophyticus.
20	Biochemical Test	To identify the streptococcus species, the tests like the Catalase test, Bile solubility test, Bacitracin Sensitivity test, CAMP Test, Optochin Sensitivity Test is used.	To identify the Staphylococcus species, the tests like the Catalase test, Novobiocin Sensitivity test, and coagulase test are used.
21	Diseases caused	The common diseases caused by the streptococcus organisms are strep throat, scarlet fever, toxic shock syndrome, blood infections, meningitis, pneumonia, cellulitis, Necrotizing fasciitis.	The Common disease caused by the Staphylococcal organisms are Food poisoning, surgical site infection, wound infection, bacterial conjunctivitis, skin disease, community-acquired meningitis
22	Treatment/ vaccine (prevention)	Streptococcal infections can be cured or prevented by penicillin.	The staphylococcal infection can be cured or prevented by the vancomycin.