Species identification and susceptibility to 17 antibiotics of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from clinical specimens

Abstract

A total of 299 isolates of gram-positive, catalase-positive, coagulase-negative cocci were isolated from a variety of specimens collected from patients at a large university hospital; 281 (94%) were identified as staphylococci by established methods. Using the scheme of Kloos and Schleifer, the species of the coagulase-negative staphylococci were determined. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the cause of all bacteremias and the most commonly isolated species from bone, joint and wound infections. S. haemolyticus was the 2nd most common isolate from wound infections; S. saprophyticus was the most commonly isolated species from urinary tract infections. Antibiograms to 17 antimicrobial agents were performed by a microdilution technique; the results revealed that S. epidermidis was resistant to a wider spectrum of antimicrobial agents than the other species of staphylococci were.