Journal article
Staphylococcus intermedius: Clinical presentation of a new human dog bite pathogen
Annals of emergency medicine, Vol.18(4), pp.410-413
1989
DOI: 10.1016/S0196-0644(89)80582-7
PMID: 2705672
Abstract
Staphylococcus intermedius is a Gram-positive, coagulase-positive coccus that can be distinguished from
Staphylococcus aureus by routine microbiological testing. Whereas
S intermedius is recognized as flora and pathogen of dogs, it has never been isolated from human infections. We hypothesized that
S intermedius may cause human dog bite wound infections and that it has been previously misindentified as
S aureus. Fourteen isolates from clinically infected dog bite wounds that were originally identified as
S aureus were subjected to further testing; three (22%) were found to be
S intermedius. The clinical and microbiological characteristics of these three
S intermedius cases are described. All three patients were nonimmunocompromised persons seen within 24 hours for bites on the upper extremity. All patients developed cellulitis within one to three days. All
S intermedius isolates were distinguished from
S aureus by the lack of acetoin production and by the presence of
β-galactosidase activity.
S intermedius was susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics; one isolate was resistant to penicillin. Two patients were treated with penicillin, one with amoxicillin-clavulanate, and all were clinically cured. These are the first three reported human infections involving
S intermedius. Further study is necessary to define its clinical importance as a potential human pathogen.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Staphylococcus intermedius: Clinical presentation of a new human dog bite pathogen
- Creators
- David A Talan - Olive View-UCLA Medical CenterEllie Goldstein - Olive View-UCLA Medical CenterDiana Staatz - UCLA School of Medicine, RM Alden Research Laboratory, Santa Monica Hospital Medical Center, Santa Monica, California, USAGary D Overturf - Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Annals of emergency medicine, Vol.18(4), pp.410-413
- Publisher
- Mosby, Inc
- DOI
- 10.1016/S0196-0644(89)80582-7
- PMID
- 2705672
- ISSN
- 0196-0644
- eISSN
- 1097-6760
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 1989
- Academic Unit
- Emergency Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984297137602771
Metrics
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