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Coagulase-negative staphylococci. Epidemiology, evaluation, and therapy.
1University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Nosocomial infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci are increasing. Understanding their pathogenesis and developing new antimicrobial agents are key to reducing patient harm.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Nosocomial infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are a growing concern.
- Sophisticated typing systems are improving our understanding of CoNS infection patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the increasing frequency and changing patterns of nosocomial infections with CoNS.
- To review the pathogenesis and treatment challenges of CoNS infections.
Main Methods:
- Application of advanced speciation schemes.
- Utilization of various epidemiology typing systems.
Main Results:
- CoNS infections are increasing in frequency and exhibiting changing patterns.
- Foreign bodies, compromised host defenses, and slime production are key pathogenic factors.
- CoNS are common contaminants, but even single blood culture isolations require evaluation due to frequent multidrug-resistant phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Effective prevention strategies and novel antimicrobial agents are crucial for limiting CoNS-related morbidity and mortality.
- Multidrug resistance in CoNS poses significant therapeutic challenges.