Staphylococcus cohnii: a case report on an unusual pathogen

Abstract

Coagulase-negative staphylococci have become increasingly important causes of infection in predisposed hosts. such as patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy and broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs, patients who have prosthetic devices, or those who have prolonged hospital or intensive care unit stays. However, human infections caused by Staphylococcus cohnii rarely have been reported in the literature. In this report, we review the current literature and describe a 38 year-old immunosuppressed woman who developed catheter-related S. cohnii bacteremia. The case illustrates why microbiology laboratories under certain circumstances should identify coagulase-negative staphylococci to the species level. This information may be critical because it may allow clinicians to identify the source of the infecting organism and to choose appropriate antibiotics. Yet in this era of cost containment many laboratories may decrease costs by decreasing services, including species identification.