Ventriculitis due to Staphylococcus lugdunensis: two case reports.
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.
Spanu
Teresa
T
Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. tspanu@rm.unicatt.it
Rigante
Donato
D
Tamburrini
Gianpiero
G
Fiori
Barbara
B
D'Inzeo
Tiziana
T
Posteraro
Brunella
B
Policicchio
Domenico
D
Sanguinetti
Maurizio
M
Fadda
Giovanni
G