Staphylococcus lugdunensis, an aggressive coagulase-negative pathogen not to be underestimated.
The new emerging coagulase-negative pathogen Staphylococcus lugdunensis is responsible for severe cardiac and joint infections. Since the biochemical phenotypic systems designed for the identification of CoNS do not appear to be species specific and are hardly reliable for the discrimination of S. lugdunensis from other staphylococci, its precise identification requires fine molecular methods. The pathogenic mechanisms by which S. lugdunensis causes severe infections are not yet completely elucidated and in this review its virulence and toxic determinants are surveyed as well as its adhesins and biofilm production.
Research Unit on Implant Infections, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute, Bologna, Italy.
Stefano
S
Ravaioli
Laura
L
Selan
Livia
L
Visai
Valter
V
Pirini
Davide
D
Campoccia
Alessandra
A
Maso
Pietro
P
Speziale
Lucio
L
Montanaro
Carla Renata
CR
Arciola
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000378:metabolism; D018441:Biofilms; D006801:Humans; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D057787:Staphylococcus lugdunensis / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014774:Virulence; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D037521:Virulence Factors