A total of 299 isolates of gram-positive, catalase-positive, coagulase-negative cocci were isolated from a variety of specimens collected from patients at a large university hospital, and 281 (94%) were identified as staphylococci by established methods. Using the scheme of Kloos and Schleifer, we determined the species of the coagulase-negative staphylococci. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the cause of all bacteremias and the most commonly isolated species from bone, joint, and wound infections. Staphylococcus haemolyticus was the second most common isolate from wound infections, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus was the most commonly isolated species from urinary tract infections. Antibiograms to 17 antimicrobial agents were performed by a microdilution technique, and the results revealed that S. epidermidis was resistant to a wider spectrum of antimicrobial agents than the other species of staphylococci were.

One hundred and fifty-six urine specimens with a pure culture of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus were studied. One hundred and eighteen charts were reviewed for clinical evidence of urinary tract infections. Twenty-four cases of urinary tract infection were found. The younger females in the study tended to have infection due to novobiocin resistant Staphylococcus in contrast to males and older females.

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