Pathogens
Staphylococci, coagulase negative

Staphylococci, coagulase negative

Precautions

Routine Practices

General Information

Gram positive cocci in clusters, coagulase-negative.

Normal skin flora.

Isolation of coagulase-negative Staphylococci often reflects a skin contaminant/colonizer.

While the isolation of coagulase-negative Staphylococci is often a contaminant, they have potential to cause deep-seated infections especially in the presence of prosthetic devices. Empiric therapy for true infections pending susceptibilities is vancomycin.

Disease manifestations include infections of prosthetic materials including:

  • Prosthetic valve endocarditis
  • Line-associated bloodstream infections
  • Prosthetic joint infections

Staphylococcus saphrophyticus can cause urinary tract infections in young women.

Isolation of Staphylococcus lugdunensis from blood cultures is associated with infective endocarditis and should be treated similarly to Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.