Confirmation of nontypeable Streptococcus pneumoniae-like organisms isolated from outbreaks of epidemic conjunctivitis as Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Eleven isolates representing five distinct outbreaks of pneumococcal conjunctivitis were examined for phenotypic and genetic characteristics. None of the strains possessed capsules, and all strains were susceptible to optochin, bile soluble, and Gen-Probe AccuProbe test positive. All 11 isolates were confirmed as Streptococcus pneumoniae by DNA-DNA reassociation experiments.