Stomatococcus mucilaginous, SEM

Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of Human oral bacterium Stomatococcus mucilaginous. This genus is formerly known as Micrococcus mucilaginous or Staphylococcus salivarius. It is a coccoid-shaped, Gram-positive, catalase variable bacterium and is considered part of the normal human oral flora and upper respiratory tract flora. It has recently been described as a human pathogen causing infection. The mode of entry for this bacterium is usually a venous catheter but sometimes an oral lesion. Although believed to be an organism of low virulence, S. mucilaginous has been reported to be an opportunistic pathogen, the most common clinical presentation being septicaemia, endocarditis, and catheter-related sepsis. Magnification: x2,000 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.