Which organism hydrolyzes sodium hippurate to glycine and benzoic acid?

Which organism hydrolyzes sodium hippurate to glycine and benzoic acid?

• A. Streptococcus pneumoniae
• B. Listeria monocytogenes
• C. Enterococcus faecalis
• D. Streptococcus agalactiae

Answer: (D)

Hydrolyzing sodium hippurate tests for the enzyme hippuricase, which cleaves hippurate into glycine and benzoic acid. After incubation, glycine is detected (often with ninhydrin) by a color change, indicating a positive result. Streptococcus agalactiae is hippurate-positive, so it hydrolyzes hippurate to glycine and benzoic acid. This property is a useful identifier for Group B Streptococcus in clinical labs, helping distinguish it from other streptococci in routine workups. Therefore, among the organisms listed, this one is the classic hippurate-hydrolyzing performer.

Hydrolyzing sodium hippurate tests for the enzyme hippuricase, which cleaves hippurate into glycine and benzoic acid. After incubation, glycine is detected (often with ninhydrin) by a color change, indicating a positive result.

Streptococcus agalactiae is hippurate-positive, so it hydrolyzes hippurate to glycine and benzoic acid. This property is a useful identifier for Group B Streptococcus in clinical labs, helping distinguish it from other streptococci in routine workups.

Therefore, among the organisms listed, this one is the classic hippurate-hydrolyzing performer.