Pathogens
Staphylococcus capitis

Staphylococcus capitis

General Information

Vancomycin as empiric therapy for systemic infections.

Modify based on antibiotic susceptibility.

Staphylococcus capitis is a coagulase-negative species (CoNS) of Staphylococcus.

It is part of the normal flora of the skin of the human scalp, face, neck, scrotum, and ears but has been associated with bloodstream infections and endocarditis.

It has been associated with prosthetic valve endocarditis, and rarely with native valve infection.

It can be a contaminant in blood cultures, but clinically significant infection should be considered based on host factors and assessment.

  • Bacteremia
  • Neonatal sepsis in NICU setting
  • Central venous catheter-associated infections
  • Endocarditis
  • Prosthetic joint infections