Final answer:
The production of acetoin and the enzyme coagulase are key factors in distinguishing between S. aureus and S. epidermidis, with S. aureus being coagulase-positive and capable of fermenting mannitol, while S. epidermidis does not produce acetoin and is coagulase-negative.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acetoin production is an important factor in distinguishing between S. aureus and S. epidermidis, which are two different staphylococci strains. While S. aureus is able to ferment mannitol, resulting in a color change to yellow on a mannitol salt agar plate, S. epidermidis does not cause this color change due to lack of acetoin production.
Furthermore, S. aureus is differentiated from other Staphylococcus spp. by its ability to produce coagulase, an enzyme that induces blood clot formation. In contrast, S. epidermidis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcal species (CoNS), which typically cause less severe human disease compared to coagulase-positive species like S. aureus (COPS).
Other distinguishing factors include clumping factor and Protein A, both of which are associated with S. aureus and not with S. epidermidis. Additional laboratory tests, such as passive agglutination and genetic testing, might be necessary to confirm the specific strain of Staphylococcus present in a sample.