Introduction: Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus associated with infections such as aggressive endocarditis, repeated abscess formation and opportunist infections.
Materials and methods: S. lugdunensis isolates recovered at our hospital during three years (1997-2000) were studied. The fibrinogen affinity factor and tube free-coagulase were analysed. The identification was made by the Crystal GPID (Becton-Dickinson) and Wider (Soria Melguizo) systems. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed with Wider panels. The clinical records of patients with S. lugdunensis recovered were studied.
Results: Thirteen S. Lugdunensis isolates were recovered from the following sources: abscess (9), surgical wound (2), blood culture (1), and urine (1). In ten cases the microorganism was obtained in pure culture; in the remaining three cases, S. lugdunensis grew in mixed culture. Two cases were excluded, as S. lugdunensis was considered not to be associated with the clinical condition. Lesions were located at: inguinal region (4), gluteal region (2), breast (2), abdominal wall (1), foot (1), unknown (1). Tent of the 13 isolates (76%) had fibrinogen affinity factor. Penicillin sensitivity was observed in 11/13 strains (84.6%). In one case, the isolate was beta-lactamase producer (7.6%); and in other case, the isolate was resistant to methicillin (7.6%).
Conclusions: In this study we observed that S. lugdunensis is associated with skin and soft tisue infections, particularly abscess formation. The infection occurs most frequently in cancer patients, as observed in three cases in our series. The necessity of correctly identifying S. Lugdunensis is underscored. The recovery of coagulase-negative staphylococci should not reassure us unless a potentially pathogen species has been ruled out.