Figure 1

Flowchart for identifying gram-positive cocci in clusters. After the Gram staining and subculture on blood and chocolate agar, tube coagulase tests (TCT) were performed by adding 75 μL material from positive blood culture bottles to 0.5 mL horse plasma and analysed for coagulation every 15 min until 4 hours and again after 24 h. When colonies were visible (after 4–6 hours), agglutination tests were performed. The following day complementary tests were analysed. The consecutive patient samples were analysed and reported according to this chart. Abbreviations in figure: TCT: tube coagulase test, CoNS: Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci.