Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS). Like other CoNS, S. lugdunensis in humans ranges from a harmless skin commensal to a life-threatening pathogen (as with infective endocarditis). Unlike other CoNS, however, S. lugdunensis can cause severe disease reminiscent of the virulent infections frequently attributable to Staphylococcus aureus [1]. In addition, most S. lugdunensis isolates remain susceptible to a large number of antimicrobial agents.
S. lugdunensis was first described in 1988 and was distinguished from other coagulase-negative staphylococcal species via DNA relatedness studies based on 11 clinical strains. The new species was named after Lyon, the French city where the organism was first isolated (Lugdunum, the Latin name of Lyon) [2]. S. lugdunensis is unique among CoNS because of its propensity for causing aggressive native valve infective endocarditis (IE) and its susceptibility to a vast array of antimicrobial agents.
The microbiology, clinical features, and treatment of S. lugdunensis infections will be reviewed here. Other issues related to coagulase-negative staphylococci are discussed in detail separately