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Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Infections
March 2009
March 2009
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Abstract
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are differentiated from the closely related
but more virulent Staphylococcus aureus by their inability to produce free coagulase.
Currently, there are over 40 recognized species of CNS. These organisms typically
reside on healthy human skin and mucus membranes, rarely cause disease, and are most
frequently encountered by clinicians as contaminants of microbiological cultures.
However, CNS have been increasingly recognized to cause clinically significant infections.
The conversion of the CNS from symbiont to human pathogen has been a direct reflection
of the use of indwelling medical devices. This article deals with the clinical syndromes,
epidemiology, prevention, and management of infections caused by this unique group
of organisms.