Routine Practices
Aerobic or facultatively anaerobic Gram-positive cocci in clusters, coagulase negative.
Normally found as a commensal flora of the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other mammals.
Global distribution. Transmission occurs through endogenous dissemination, direct contact with wounds, or contamination of foreign devices (e.g. catheters, lines).
Isolation of coagulase-negative staphylococci often represents colonization, and appropriate clinical judgement is important to interpret culture results.
Associated with nosocomial infections including:
S. saprophyticus is associated with community-acquired urinary tract infections, especially in young females.
S. lugdunensis can be more virulent and may present similarly to S. aureus.