Bacterial Taxonomy Translation Guide

Bacterial Taxonomy Translation Guide

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) proteomic identification tools enable the precise identification of many cultured bacterial taxa.

In some situations, it is appropriate to translate the identified bacterium into a clinically useful synonym. The guidelines below describe the nomenclature translation strategy used by Cleveland Clinic.  This translation table is not exhaustive. Local laboratory protocols should be consulted when ruling out select agents and making nomenclature decisions.

Use the table search function to find a specific bacteria or download this information onto your own device.

Table data was last updated on 11 July 2023.

wdt_ID MALDI-TOF MS Identification Reporting instructions Notes & References
906 Achromobacter denitrificans Achromobacter species
907 Achromobacter xylosoxidans Achromobacter species
908 Acinetobacter baumannii Acinetobacter baumannii complex
909 Acinetobacter calcoaceticus Acinetobacter baumannii complex
910 Acinetobacter dijkshoorniae Acinetobacter baumannii complex
911 Acinetobacter nosocomialis Acinetobacter baumannii complex
912 Acinetobacter pittii Acinetobacter baumannii complex
913 Acinetobacter seifertii Acinetobacter baumannii complex
914 Actinotignum sanguinis Actinotignum species
915 Actinotignum schaalii Actinotignum species
916 Aeromonas caviae Aeromonas species
917 Aeromonas hydrophila Aeromonas species
918 Aeromonas sobria Aeromonas species
919 Aeromonas veronii Aeromonas species
920 Alkalicoccus Bacillus species
921 Alkalihalobacillus Bacillus species
922 Caldalkalibacillus Bacillus species
923 Caldibacillus Bacillus species
924 Calidifontibacillus Bacillus species
925 Cytobacillus Bacillus species
926 Ectobacillus Bacillus species
927 Evansella Bacillus species
928 Fredinandcohnia Bacillus species
929 Gottfriedia Bacillus species
930 Heyndrickxia Bacillus species
931 Lederbergia Bacillus species
932 Litchfieldia Bacillus species
933 Margalitia Bacillus species
934 Mesobacillus Bacillus species
935 Metabacillus Bacillus species
936 Neobacillus Bacillus species
937 Niallia Bacillus species
938 Peribacillus Bacillus species
939 Priestia Bacillus species
940 Robertmurraya Bacillus species
941 Rosselomorea Bacillus species
942 Salibacterium Bacillus species
943 Siminovitchia Bacillus species
944 Sutcliffiella Bacillus species
945 Weizmannia Bacillus species
946 Bacteroides acidifaciens Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
947 Bacteroides caccae Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
948 Bacteroides cellulosilyticus Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
949 Bacteroides eggerthii Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
950 Parabacteroides faecis Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
951 Bacteroides fragilis Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
952 Bacteroides finegoldii Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
953 Bacteroides helcogenes Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
954 Bacteroides intestinalis Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
955 Bacteroides nordii Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
956 Bacteroides ovatus Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
957 Bacteroides pyogenes Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
958 Bacteroides salyersiae Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
959 Bacteroides stercoris Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
960 Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
961 Bacteroides uniformis Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
962 Bacteroides xylanisolvens Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
963 Phocaeicola coprocola Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
964 Phocaeicola dorei Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
965 Phocaeicola massiliensis Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
966 Phocaeicola plebeius Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
967 Phocaeicola vulgatus Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
968 Parabacteroides distasonis Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
969 Parabacteroides goldsteinii Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
970 Parabacteroides gordonii Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
971 Parabacteroides johnsonii Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
972 Parabacteroides merdae Bacteroides fragilis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35700139/
973 Burkholderia ambifaria Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
974 Burkholderia cenocepacia Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
975 Burkholderia cepacia Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
976 Burkholderia dolsa Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
977 Burkholderia multivorans Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
978 Burkholderia pyrrocinia Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
979 Burkholderia ubonensis Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
980 Burkholderia vietnamiensis Burkholderia cepacia complex Send the isolate to a reference laboratory for species-level identification.
981 Burkholderia mallei See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. See LRN Sentinel Guidelines (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
982 Burkholderia pseudomallei See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. See LRN Sentinel Guidelines (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
983 Burkholderia thailandensis See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. Rule out Burkholderia select agents (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
984 Bacillus anthracis See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. See LRN Sentinel Guidelines (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
985 Citrobacter amalonaticus Citrobacter amalonaticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32375941/
986 Citrobacter farmeri Citrobacter amalonaticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32375941/
987 Citrobacter sedlakii Citrobacter amalonaticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32375941/
988 Citrobacter rodentium Citrobacter amalonaticus group
989 Citrobacter braakii Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
990 Citrobacter freundii Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
991 Citrobacter werkmanii Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
992 Citrobacter youngae Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
993 Citrobacter cronae Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
994 Citrobacter portucalensis Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
995 Citrobacter europaeus Citrobacter freundii complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
996 Clostridium baratii Clostridium baratii Consult medical director for chart review to rule out signs and symptoms of botulism (https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/general.html)
997 Clostridium botulinum See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. See LRN Sentinel Guidelines (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
998 Clostridium butyricum Clostridium butyricum Consult medical director for chart review to rule out signs and symptoms of botulism (https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/general.html)
999 Enterobacter asburiae Enterobacter cloacae complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
1000 Enterobacter cloacae Enterobacter cloacae complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
1001 Enterobacter hormaechei Enterobacter cloacae complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
1002 Enterobacter kobei Enterobacter cloacae complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
1003 Enterobacter ludwigii Enterobacter cloacae complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
1004 Enterobacter nimipressuralis Enterobacter cloacae complex Common AmpC-producer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34864936/
1005 Francisella tularensis See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. See LRN Sentinel Guidelines (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
1006 Klebsiella alba Klebsiella pneumoniae group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27031705/
1007 Klebsiella africana Klebsiella pneumoniae group https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.003624
1008 Klebsiella pneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27031705/
1009 Klebsiella quasipneumoniae Klebsiella pneumoniae group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27031705/
1010 Klebsiella variicola Klebsiella pneumoniae group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27031705/
1011 Apilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1012 Companilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1013 Dellaglioa Lactobacillus species
1014 Fructilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1015 Furfurilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1016 Lacticaseibacillus (not casei, paracasei, rhamnosus, or zeae) Lactobacillus species
1017 Lactiplantibacillus (not plantarum) Lactobacillus species
1018 Lapidilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1019 Latilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1020 Lentilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1021 Levilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1022 Ligilactobacillus (not salivarius) Lactobacillus species
1023 Limosilactobacillus (not fermentum, reuter, or vaginalis) Lactobacillus species
1024 Liquorilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1025 Loigolactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1026 Paucilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1027 Schleiferilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1028 Secundilactobacillus Lactobacillus species
1029 Lacticaseibacillus casei Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1030 Lacticaseibacillus casei/paracasei Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1031 Lacticaseibacillus casei/paracasei/rhamnosus Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1032 Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1033 Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1034 Lacticaseibacillus zeae Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1035 Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1036 Ligilactobacillus salivarius Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1037 Limosilactobacillus fermentum Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1038 Limosilactobacillus reuteri Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1039 Limosilactobacillus vaginalis Lactobacillus species, vancomycin resistant group
1040 Leuconostoc species Leuconostoc species Leuconostoc species are intrinsically resistant to vancomycin.
1041 Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes Listeria monocytogenes is intrinsically resistant to cephalosporins.
1042 Neisseria gonorrhoeae See notes. Confirm Gram stain morphology is gram-negative diplococci before reporting.
1043 Neisseria meningitidis See notes. Confirm Gram stain morphology is gram-negative diplococci before reporting.
1044 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) anthropic Ochrobactrum anthropi
1045 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) ciceri Ochrobactrum species
1046 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) ciceri/intermedia Ochrobactrum species
1047 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) cytisi Ochrobactrum species
1048 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) gallinifaecis Ochrobactrum species
1049 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) grignonensis Ochrobactrum species
1050 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) haematophila Ochrobactrum species
1051 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) intermedia Ochrobactrum species
1052 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) lupini Ochrobactrum species
1053 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) oryzae Ochrobactrum species
1054 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) pseudintermedia Ochrobactrum species
1055 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) pseudogrignonensis Ochrobactrum species
1056 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) rhizosphaerae Ochrobactrum species
1057 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) thiophenivorans Ochrobactrum species
1058 Brucella (Ochrobactrum) tritici Ochrobactrum species
1059 Proteus penneri Proteus penneri If needed, perform spot indole to differentiate P. penneri (negative) & P. vulgaris (positive)
1060 Proteus vulgaris Proteus vulgaris If needed, perform spot indole to differentiate P. penneri (negative) & P. vulgaris (positive)
1061 Psychrobacter aestuarii Psychrobacter species
1062 Psychrobacter alimentarius Psychrobacter species
1063 Psychrobacter arcticus Psychrobacter species
1064 Psychrobacter arenosus Psychrobacter species
1065 Psychrobacter celer Psychrobacter species
1066 Psychrobacter ciconiae Psychrobacter species
1067 Psychrobacter faecalis Psychrobacter species
1068 Psychrobacter fulvigenes Psychrobacter species
1069 Psychrobacter immobilis Psychrobacter species
1070 Psychrobacter jeotgali Psychrobacter species
1071 Psychrobacter lutiphocae Psychrobacter species
1072 Psychrobacter namhaensis Psychrobacter species
1073 Psychrobacter pasteurii Psychrobacter species
1074 Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus Psychrobacter species
1075 Psychrobacter piechaudii Psychrobacter species
1076 Psychrobacter sanguinis Psychrobacter species
1077 Psychromonas aquatilis Psychrobacter species
1078 Salmonella species Salmonella species Consider performing additional testing to rule in or rule out S. Typhi.
1079 Staphylococcus aureus sensu stricto (including ssp. anaerobius) Staphylococcus aureus
1080 Staphylococcus argenteus Staphylococcus aureus complex https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30872103/
1081 Staphylococcus schweitzeri Staphylococcus aureus complex https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30872103/
1082 Staphylococcus delphini Staphylococcus intermedius group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32672529/
1083 Staphylococcus intermedius Staphylococcus intermedius group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32672529/
1084 Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Staphylococcus intermedius group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32672529/
1085 Staphylococcus ursi Staphylococcus intermedius group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32672529/
1086 Streptococcus constellatus Streptococcus anginosus group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1087 Streptococcus constellatus ssp. constellatus Streptococcus anginosus group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1088 Streptococcus constellatus ssp. pharyngis Streptococcus anginosus group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1089 Streptococcus intermedius Streptococcus anginosus group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1090 Streptococcus alactolyticus Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1091 Streptococcus equinus Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1092 Streptococcus gallolyticus Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1093 Streptococcus gallolyticus ssp. gallolyticus Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1094 Streptococcus gallolyticus ssp. pasteurianus Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1095 Streptococcus infantarius Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1096 Streptococcus infantarius ssp. coli (S. lutetiensis) Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1097 Streptococcus infantarius ssp. infantarius Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1098 Streptococcus lutetiensis Streptococcus bovis/gallolyticus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25233845/
1099 Streptococcus cristatus Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1100 Streptococcus gordonii Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1101 Streptococcus infantis Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9734047/
1102 Streptococcus mitis Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1103 Streptococcus oralis Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1104 Streptococcus parasanguinis Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1105 Streptococcus peroris Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9734047/
1106 Streptococcus sanguinis Streptococcus mitis-oralis group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1107 Streptococcus mutans Streptococcus mutans group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10826787/
1108 Streptococcus ratti Streptococcus mutans group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10826787/
1109 Streptococcus sobrinus Streptococcus mutans group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10826787/
1110 Streptococcus bovimastitidis Streptococcus porcinus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099353/
1111 Streptococcus castoreus Streptococcus porcinus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099353/
1112 Streptococcus didelphis Streptococcus porcinus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099353/
1113 Streptococcus porcinus Streptococcus porcinus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099353/
1114 Streptococcus pseudoporcinus Streptococcus porcinus group https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29099353/
1115 Streptococcus salivarius Streptococcus salivarius group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1116 Streptococcus salivarius ssp. salivarius Streptococcus salivarius group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1117 Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus Streptococcus salivarius group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1118 Streptococcus vestibularis Streptococcus salivarius group https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2849594/pdf/2082-09.pdf
1119 Staphylococcus schleiferi ssp. coagulans Staphylococcus schleiferi
1120 Staphylococcus schleiferi ssp. schleiferi Staphylococcus schleiferi
1121 Streptococcus pneumoniae See notes. Confirm as bile soluble before reporting the identification.
1122 Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae See notes. Confirm as bile insoluble before reporting the identification.
1123 Veillonella atypica Veillonella species
1124 Veillonella caviae Veillonella species
1125 Veillonella criceti Veillonella species
1126 Veillonella denticariosi Veillonella species
1127 Veillonella dispar Veillonella species
1128 Veillonella magna Veillonella species
1129 Veillonella montpellierensis Veillonella species
1130 Veillonella parvula Veillonella species
1131 Veillonella ratti Veillonella species
1132 Veillonella rogosae Veillonella species
1133 Yersinia pestis See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. See LRN Sentinel Guidelines (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)
1134 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis See notes. Consult Select Agent guidelines. Rule out Yersinia pestis (https://asm.org/Articles/CPHMC/Laboratory-Response-Network-LRN-Sentinel-Level-C)