Staphylococcus caprae Infections in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Report of Two Cases

Cureus. 2024 Nov 20;16(11):e74124. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74124. eCollection 2024 Nov.

Abstract

Staphylococcus caprae (S. caprae) is a coagulase-negative staphylococci. This group of bacteria is typically part of the skin flora but can become pathogenic in susceptible hosts, such as preterm infants with prolonged stays in neonatal intensive care units. Two preterm newborns with late-onset sepsis caused by S. caprae, one of whom also developed meningitis. Antibiotics were initiated, and both infants had favorable outcomes. While S. caprae is a well-documented agent of infection in adults, there are only rare reports of infection in neonates, particularly in preterms. Differentiating between contamination and infection is crucial for the appropriate initiation of antibiotics.

Keywords: late-onset sepsis; neonatal intensive care unit (nicu); neonatal sepsis; preterm neonate; staphylococcus caprae.

Publication types

  • Case Reports