Staphylococcus epidermidis Infections
Authors:
- 1 December 1983
- journal article
- review article
- Published by American College of Physicians in Annals of Internal Medicine
- Vol. 99 (6) , 834-839
Abstract
Staphylococcus epidermidis, an organism routinely found on the skin and in the hospital environment, has become a primary pathogen in infections associated with prosthetic devices. Because these infections are indolent and often clinically silent, diagnosis and therapy are often difficult. Pathogens are often misidentified as contaminants. Their variable, often resistant antibiotic susceptibility pattern and the uncertain correlation of in-vitro beta-lactam sensitivity testing with therapeutic efficacy make selection of an effective antibiotic regimen difficult. Vancomycin combined with rifampin, gentamicin, or both, is recommended for empiric therapy of these infections. Usually, removal of the prosthetic device is also necessary and may contribute equally to a successful therapeutic outcome.Keywords
This publication has 69 references indexed in Scilit:
- Vancomycin prophylaxis in cardiac operations: Determination of an optimal dosage regimenThe Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 1983
- Airborne bacteria and surgical infectionThe American Journal of Medicine, 1981
- Nosocomial infections in the immunocompromised adultThe American Journal of Medicine, 1981
- Prosthetic valve infective endocarditisProgress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 1979
- Cervical Osteomyelitis1978
- Etiology and Diagnosis of Bacterial Postoperative EndophthalmitisOphthalmology, 1978
- Sternal and costochondral infections following open-heart surgeryThe Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 1976
- Sources of Contamination in Open Heart SurgeryJAMA, 1974
- Infection in vascular prosthesesThe American Journal of Surgery, 1974
- Renal Disease With Staphylococcus albus BacteremiaJAMA, 1970