Pathogens
Staphylococci, coagulase negative

Staphylococci, coagulase negative

Precautions

Routine Practices

Susceptibilities

General Information

Gram positive cocci in clusters, coagulase-negative.

Includes S. epidermidis, S. lugdunensis and others.

Ubiquitous - skin organism.

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 acts more like Staphylococcus aureus and is more virulent than other coag neg Staph - should be respected as a pathogen.