Case of <i>Staphylococcus schleiferi</i> subspecies <i>coagulans</i> endocarditis and metastatic infection in an immune compromised host

Abstract

Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies coagulans is a relatively recently described organism with limited human pathogenicity. Described case reports of infection are primarily limited to canine external otitis with only one reported case of human involvement, localized to a surgical wound infection. Similarities in phenotypic and microbiological characteristics between S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans and S. aureus have resulted in frequent mistakes using common methods of identification. We describe the first case of disseminated human infection with this species, definitively identified using DNA sequencing, and successfully treated with conventional therapy.