The pathogenicity of coagulase negative staphylococcus in the presence of silicone rubber implants

• Published in: British journal of plastic surgery Vol. 40; no. 1; pp. 94 - 96
• Main Authors: Wong, P.T.L., Nield, Dalia V., Khoo, C.T.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1987; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Joint Prosthesis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Orthopedic surgery; Prostheses and Implants; Retrospective Studies; Silicone Elastomers; Staphylococcal Infections - etiology; Staphylococcus - pathogenicity; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgical Wound Infection - etiology; Human; Infection; Orthopedic surgery; Implant; Prosthesis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Complication; Micrococcaceae; Silicone elastomer; Staphylococcus
• ISSN: 0007-1226; 1465-3087
• DOI: 10.1016/0007-1226(87)90018-X

Coagulase negative staphylococci have long been thought to be harmless skin commensals. However they are now recognised as important pathogens in patients who have undergone insertion of prosthetic devices. We present three patients with infection following the insertion of silicone polymer prostheses, in whom a coagulase negative staphylococcus was the pathogen. All responded to antibiotic treatment. It is important to alert the bacteriologist to the presence of an implanted prosthesis when wound swabs are sent from an area showing clinical signs of infection. The coagulase negative staphylococci may otherwise be regarded falsely as merely skin contaminants.