Disease
Infections are associated with intravascular devices (prosthetic heart valves, shunts, etc.) but also commonly occur in prosthetic joints, catheters, and large wounds. Catheter infections along with catheter-induced UTIs lead to serious inflammation and pus secretion. In these instances, urination is extremely painful. Septicemia and endocarditis are also diseases associated with S. epidermidis. Their symptoms run the gamut from fever, headache, and fatigue to anorexia and dyspnea. Septicemia is especially prevalent resulting from neonatal infections, particularly in very low birth weights. Endocarditis is an infection of the heart valves and parts of the inside lining of the heart muscle. S. epidermidis is very likely to contaminate patient-care equipment and environmental surfaces, possibly explaining the high incidence of S. epidermidis in the hospital setting.