Clinical outcomes ofStaphylococcus capitisisolation from neonates, England, 2015–2021: a retrospective case–control study

Abstract

ObjectiveStaphylococcus capitis, a coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species, has been increasingly detected from UK sterile site samples and has caused neonatal unit outbreaks worldwide. We compared survival to discharge and 30-day mortality for the detection ofS. capitisversus other CoNS species.MethodsIn this retrospective case–control study, we included hospitalised infants with any CoNS species detected from a normally sterile body site up to 90 days of age. We linked English laboratory reports from the Second Generation Surveillance System database, mortality data from the Personal Demographics Service, and neonatal unit admissions from the National Neonatal Research Database. In primary analysis, multivariable logistic regression was used, with two co-primary outcomes: survival to discharge and death within 30 days of positive specimen date. Sensitivity analyses using multiply imputed datasets followed.ResultsWe identified 16 636 CoNS episodes relating to 13 745 infants. CoNS episodes were highest among infants born extremely preterm (22–27 weeks) and with extremely low birth weight (400–999 g). In primary analysis, there were no differences in survival to discharge (p=0.71) or 30-day mortality (p=0.77) between CoNS species. In sensitivity analyses, there were no differences in outcomes between infection with four of the most common CoNS species (Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. capitis,Staphylococcus haemolyticusandStaphylococcus warneri) but the remaining CoNS species were at higher risk of adverse outcomes when treated in aggregate.ConclusionInfants withS. capitisdetected from sterile site samples did not experience significant differences in either survival to discharge or 30-day mortality compared with infants with detection of other common CoNS species.

Prenatal and Postnatal Disparities in Very-Preterm Infants in a Study of Infections between 2018–2023 in Southeastern US

“…However, in this cohort, four infants with these bacteria in their blood cultures died during this study, and, in two cases, infants only grew S. capitus from the blood culture and had NEC diagnosed prior to death. A research team from the United Kingdom conducted a retrospective study to determine if S. capitus infections lead to worse outcomes in very-preterm infant but found no differences in mortality or outcomes with S. epidermidis , S. capitus , S. haemolyticus , and S. warneri [ 44 ]. Researchers have also identified S. capitis strains that belong to the NRCS-S clone subgroups, which may lead to virulent LOS and poor outcomes [ 45 ].…”