Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus Bacteremia

3 patients are admitted to the hospital with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. growing from blood cultures

Patient 1 – 1 of 2 sets growing S. epidermidis with erythema at the catheter insertion site
Patient 2 – 1 of 2 sets growing S. lugdunensis with NO symptoms
Patient 3 – 1 of 2 sets growing S. haemolyticus with NO symptoms

In which patient is it REASONABLE to monitor off therapy?

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Best Answer:

Patient 3👨

Explanation: Patient 1 has a local sign of infection and therefore may have an infected catheter. Other examples of local signs of infection include pain, inflammation, and purulence.

S. lugdunensis is more virulent that other coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and therefore patient 2 should be managed similar to S. aureus bacteremia.

Patient 3's blood culture is likely a contaminant due to growth in one blood culture bottle and is asymptomatic.