Gram positive cocci in clusters, coagulase-negative

Ubiquitous - skin organism

Most commonly a skin contaminant/colonizer.

The most common contaminant of blood cultures.

Increasingly recognized as nosocomial pathogens, especially S. epidermidis

Disease manifestations include infections of prosthetic materials including:

• Prosthetic valve endocarditis
• Vascular catheter infections
• Prosthetic joints

Staphylococcus saphrophyticus causes UTI in young females