title: Ventriculitis due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis: two case reports.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staphylococcus lugdunensis is an unusually virulent coagulase-negative staphylococcus that has rarely been implicated in central nervous system infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two children hospitalized in the Neurosurgery Unit developed ventriculitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus lugdunensis following placement of external ventriculostomy drains. The causative organisms were identified by molecular studies. The patients recovered without significant sequelae after high doses of intrathecal vancomycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distinguishing Staphylococcus lugdunensis from other coagulase-negative staphylococcus species is crucial because it carries a substantial risk for severe central nervous system infections displayed by patients with implanted cerebrospinal fluid devices. Clinicians should not underestimate the importance of the isolation of this species from cerebrospinal fluid specimens.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. tspanu@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spanu
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rigante
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tamburrini
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: D'Inzeo
authors.forename: Brunella
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Posteraro
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Policicchio
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fadda