Pathogens
Staphylococci, coagulase negative

Staphylococci, coagulase negative

General Information

Gram positive coccus in clusters, coagulase-negative

Ubiquitous - skin organism.

Considered low level pathogens.

  • Most commonly a skin contaminant/colonizer
  • The most common contaminant of blood cultures
  • This may be a real pathogen particularly in nosocomial setting
  • Disease manifestations include infections of prosthetic materials including:

    • Prosthetic valve endocarditis
    • Vascular catheter infections
    • Prosthetic joints
  • Staphylococcus saphrophyticus causes UTI in young females

Staphylococcus lugdenensis has virulence similar to Staphylococcus aureus and should be respected as a pathogen.