The Opportunistic Pathogen Staphylococcus warneri: Virulence and Antibiotic Resistance, Clinical Features, Association with Orthopedic Implants and Other Medical Devices, and a Glance at Industrial Applications

Abstract

In recent decades, the risk of developing opportunistic infections has increased in parallel with the ever-increasing number of people suffering from chronic immunosuppressive diseases or undergoing prosthetic surgery. Staphylococcus warneri is a Gram-positive and coagulase-negative bacterium. Usually found as a component of the healthy human and animal microbiota of the skin and mucosae, it can take on the role of an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing a variety of infections, ranging from mild to life-threatening, not only in immunocompromised patients but even, although rarely, in healthy people. Here, in addition to a concise discussion of the identification and distinguishing features of S. warneri compared to other staphylococcal species, a systematic overview of the findings from case reports and clinical studies is provided. The paper highlights the virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of S. warneri, the different clinical contexts in which it has proven to be a serious pathogen, emphasizing its ability to colonize artificial prosthetic materials and its tropism for musculoskeletal and cardiovascular tissues. Some original data on orthopedic implant infections by S. warneri complement the discussion. Finally, from a different perspective, the paper addresses the possibilities of industrial exploitation of this bacterium.

Keywords: Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus warneri; antibiotic resistance; bacteria in industrial applications; bacteriocins; medical device-associated infections; one health; opportunistic infections; orthopedic implant infections; orthopedic infections.

Figure 1

Size of 24-h colonies on Mueller Hinton agar from clinical isolates of different staphylococcal species. S. haemolyticus, S. epidermidis, S. warneri, and S. aureus. All bacterial isolates come from orthopedic implant infections and belong to the collection of the Research Laboratory on Pathology of Implant Infections of the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute.

Figure 1

Size of 24-h colonies on Mueller Hinton agar from clinical isolates of different staphylococcal species. S. haemolyticus, S. epidermidis, S. warneri, and S. aureus. All bacterial isolates come from orthopedic implant infections and belong to the collection of the Research Laboratory on Pathology of Implant Infections of the Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute.