Erroneous reporting of coagulase-negative Staphylococci as Kocuria spp. by the Vitek 2 system.
Misidentification of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) may delay appropriate treatment. We investigated 20 clinical isolates identified as Kocuria spp. by the Vitek 2 system. All were identified as CoNS by 16S rRNA gene sequencing (18 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 Staphylococcus haemolyticus). Four Kocuria isolates were shown to be identical to CoNS from the same patient by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Isolates identified by Vitek 2 as Kocuria most likely represent misidentified CoNS, and if clinically indicated, should be investigated further by genomic methods.
Ben-Ami
R
R
Infectious Diseases Unit, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel-Aviv 64239, Israel.
Navon-Venezia
S
S
Schwartz
D
D
Schlezinger
Y
Y
Mekuzas
Y
Y
Carmeli
Y
Y
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003030:Coagulase / Q000032:analysis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D003030:Coagulase; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S