Taxonomy
Family: Staphylococcaceae
Natural habitats
They are part of the normal skin flora.
Clinical significance
S. haemolyticus and S .hominis are preferentially isolated from axillae and pubic areas high in apocrine glands
They have a relatively low virulence and can cause infections in patients with lowered resistance, especially in immune compromised patients.
CNS infections occur in implantation of foreign objects, such as intravenous catheters or bone prostheses.
Is repeatedly CNS, in pure culture or in mixed culture isolated from the material, then this confirms the presence of an infection.
The correct identification of CNS is necessary in order to get an idea of the pathogens in this group.
Gram positive cocci,
0.8-1.3 µm
that occur in irregular grape-like clusters and,
less often, single and in pairs, tetrads, and in short chains.
Facultative anaerobic
BA: colonies are medium, smooth, buttery, glistening and opaque, non pigmented or yellowish and hemolytic.
Hemolysis may be weak sometimes.
McConkey: growth
BBAØ: growth
James Versalovic et al.(2011) Manual of Clinical Microbiology 10th Edition
Karen C. Carrol et al (2019) Manual of Clinical Microbiology, 12th Edition