Alpha hemolysis

Alpha Hemolysis is a type of hemolysis observed in bacterial cultures. It is characterized by a greenish discoloration of the agar around the bacterial colony due to a partial destruction of red blood cells.

Overview

Alpha hemolysis is caused by the bacterial production of hydrogen peroxide, which oxidizes hemoglobin to green methemoglobin and imparts a green color to the agar. This type of hemolysis is often associated with certain species of Streptococcus, including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus viridans.

Identification

In a laboratory setting, alpha hemolysis can be identified by streaking a bacterial sample on a blood agar plate and observing the color change around the colonies after incubation. The greenish discoloration is a key indicator of alpha hemolysis.

Clinical Significance

Alpha-hemolytic bacteria are often involved in infections of the respiratory tract, endocarditis, and other opportunistic infections. For example, Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia, meningitis, and otitis media.

See Also

• Beta Hemolysis
• Gamma Hemolysis

References

Alpha hemolysis Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

‎