title: Emergence of coagulase negative staphylococci as major nosocomial bloodstream pathogens.
abstract: Over an eight year period, 1975 to 1982, 1,843 nosocomial bloodstream infections were identified by routine prospective surveillance at the University of Virginia Hospital (106/10,000 admissions). Despite a decline in overall bloodstream infection rates during the study period (P = .085), bloodstream infections due to gram positive organisms increased from 29 (1975-1978) to 43/10,000 (1979-1982), (P less than 0.001). Notably, rates for coagulase negative staphylococci increased from 5.2 (1975-1978) to 12.4/10,000 (1979-1982), (P less than 0.001). In 1982, coagulase negative staphylococci accounted for 17% of all bloodstream infections and were the most frequently isolated pathogens. Sixty-four percent of patients with coagulase negative staphylococci were in critical care units versus 41% with other bloodstream infections (P less than .05). The recognition of coagulase negative staphylococci as significant bloodstream pathogens markedly alters the clinician's approach to nosocomial septicemia.
mesh_terms: D003030:Coagulase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014768:Virginia
chemical_list: D003030:Coagulase