title: Intra-abdominal abscess caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis.
abstract: An immunologically compromised patient was found to have a postoperative intra-abdominal abscess from which Staphylococcus epidermidis was the sole isolate. Studies of the isolate in a rabbit and in mice showed no evidence for unusual virulence of the organism. The S epidermidis probably was introduced into the peritoneal cavity during surgery and, because of the patient's neutropenia, produced a serious infection within a few weeks. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a intra-abdominal abscess associated with S epidermidis to be described in the literature.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004322:Drainage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010198:Pancytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D013156:Splenectomy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013369:Subphrenic Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents