Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Streptococcus mitis
Introduction
Streptococcus mitis is a mesophilic alpha-haemolytic species of Streptococcus that inhabits the human mouth. It can cause endocarditis. It has been widely reported that this organism survived for over two years on the Surveyor 3 probe on the moon. However this claim is now discounted by NASA scientists: see myth of Streptococcus mitis on the moon.
Uri Geller, the famous mentalist, once said that most of his supernatural powers came from a childhood infection involving S. mitis. nl:Streptococcus mitis
Gallery
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![Two blood agar plates (BAP). Left plate contains Streptococcus mitis, alpha-hemolytic bacteria, while the right plate contains Group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), a typical beta-hemolytic bacteria. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/images/4/46/Group_A_streptococcus20.jpeg)
Two blood agar plates (BAP). Left plate contains Streptococcus mitis, alpha-hemolytic bacteria, while the right plate contains Group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), a typical beta-hemolytic bacteria. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]
![Two blood agar plates (BAP). Left plate contains Streptococcus mitis, alpha-hemolytic bacteria, while the right plate contains Group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS), a typical beta-hemolytic bacteria. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). [1]](https://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/File%3AGroup_A_streptococcus20.jpeg)