Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

Abstract

Coagulase-negative staphylococcus organisms may be normal flora of human skin, however these bacteria can also be pathogens in skin and soft tissue infections. A summary of skin and soft tissue infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococcus species is provided in this review. We conducted a search of the PubMed database using the following terms: abscess, auricularis, biofilm, capitis, cellulitis, coagulase, contaminant, cyst, draining, epidermidis, felon, folliculitis, furuncle, haemolyticus, hominis, indolent, infection, lugdunensis, mecA, microbiome, negative, osteomyelitis, paronychia, saprophyticus, skin, simulans, sinus, soft, staphylococcus, systemic, tissue, virulence, virulent, and vulvar. The relevant papers, and their references, generated by the search were reviewed. Skin and soft tissue infections have been observed to be caused by many coagulase-negative staphylococcus organisms: Staphylococcus auricularis, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, and Staphylococcus simulans. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus skin infections predominantly present as abscesses and paronychia. They are most common in elderly patients or those individuals who are immunosuppressed, and tend to be broadly susceptible to antibiotic treatment. In conclusion, albeit less common, coagulase-negative staphylococcus organisms can result in skin and soft tissue infections, particularly in older and/or immunocompromised individuals. A review of the literature found that coagulase-negative staphylococcus organisms are most commonly grown in cultures of abscesses and paronychia. Therefore, coagulase-negative staphylococcal organisms should not always be considered as contaminants or normal flora, but rather as causative pathogens. They are usually susceptible to antibiotics used to treat methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus.

<p>Evaluating the antimicrobial resistance patterns among major bacterial pathogens isolated from clinical specimens taken from patients in Mofid Children’s Hospital, Tehran, Iran: 2013–2018</p>

“…However, albeit rare, CoNS can cause several infections including skin and soft tissue infections and thus should not at all times be considered as contaminants. 31 Persistent CoNS infection is probably related to various severe complications such as embolic complications, metastatic seeding and septic thrombophlebitis. 32 Therefore, the evaluation of CoNS medical correlation is a challenging problem.…”

Inguinal abscess in twin infants

“…Inguinal abscess is uncommon in infants and children. [1][2][3] It can be primary which is idiopathic or has no detectable source and secondary in which the source of infection is direct spread from adjacent structures. [1][2][3] Majority of inguinal abscess in the infantile period is primary.…”

“…[1][2][3] It can be primary which is idiopathic or has no detectable source and secondary in which the source of infection is direct spread from adjacent structures. [1][2][3] Majority of inguinal abscess in the infantile period is primary. 1,2 The proposed hypothesis in case of primary abscess is that the normal flora of the skin spreads haematogenously due to immature immune system in infants.…”

Relationship between quinolone use and resistance of Staphylococcus epidermidis in patients with acne vulgaris

“…S. epidermidis normally functions to balance the skin microbiome and is rarely pathogenic to healthy individuals. However, the species can cause surgical site infection (SSI), skin infection and opportunistic infection in aged or immunocompromised individuals . Furthermore, biofilms on the surface of clinical devices are correlated with antimicrobial resistance and delay healing.…”

“…However, the species can cause surgical site infection (SSI), skin infection and opportunistic infection in aged or immunocompromised individuals. 2,3 Furthermore, biofilms on the surface of clinical devices are correlated with antimicrobial resistance and delay healing. Recently, S. epidermidis carrying the gene encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin, which is one of the most important virulence factors in S. aureus, was isolated and shown to be capable of causing severe skin infection.…”