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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
12:18
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Staphylococcus lugdunensis
K F Barker1, J C O'Driscoll, A Bhargava
1Public Health Laboratory, St George's Hospital, London.
Journal of Clinical Pathology
|October 1, 1991
Summary
Penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus lugdunensis caused fatal endocarditis. This rare bacterium was not found in 978 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates, highlighting ornithine decarboxylase as the key identification method.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcal species.
- Endocarditis is a serious infection of the heart valves.
- Rheumatic heart disease can predispose individuals to valve damage and subsequent infections.
Observation:
- A fatal case of endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus lugdunensis on a rheumatic heart disease-damaged native valve is presented.
- A retrospective analysis of 978 coagulase-negative staphylococcal blood culture isolates was conducted.
- Staphylococcus lugdunensis was not identified in any of the 978 isolates examined.
Findings:
- Penicillin resistance in Staphylococcus lugdunensis poses a significant clinical challenge.
- The isolation frequency of Staphylococcus lugdunensis from blood cultures appears to be low.
- Ornithine decarboxylase production is identified as the sole reliable method for accurate Staphylococcus lugdunensis identification.
Implications:
- Accurate and rapid identification of Staphylococcus lugdunensis is crucial for effective treatment of endocarditis.
- Clinicians should consider Staphylococcus lugdunensis in cases of endocarditis, especially with resistant strains.
- Further research into the prevalence and diagnostic methods for Staphylococcus lugdunensis is warranted.
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