Staphylococcus hominis septicaemia in patients with cancer

We report two cases of Staphylococcus hominis septicaemia associated with the use of intravenous catheters. Both patients had advanced malignant disease, but infection was eliminated rapidly with antibiotic treatment administered via the catheters. This report confirms the pathogenicity of Staph. hominis, particularly in immunocompromised patients. We recommend the wider use of an effective scheme for the correct identification of blood culture isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci.