INFECTIONS CAUSED BY COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI (CONS)

Microbiology CoNS are generally less virulent than S. aureus but are important and common causes of prosthetic-device infections.

• Of CoNS species, S. epidermidis most often causes disease. This organism is a normal component of the skin, oropharyngeal, and vaginal flora.
• S. saprophyticus is a cause of UTIs.
• S. lugdunensis and S. schleiferi are more virulent than other CoNS species and cause serious infections, possibly because they apparently share more virulence determinants with S. aureus than do other CoNS species.

PATHOGENESIS: -

CoNS are uniquely adapted to cause prosthetic-device infections because they can elaborate an extracellular polysaccharide (glycocalyx or slime) that forms a biofilm on the device surface, protecting bacteria from host defenses as well as from antibiotic treatment while allowing bacterial survival.

CLINICAL SYNDROMES

CoNS cause diverse prosthetic device–related infections. Signs of localized infection are usually subtle, disease progression is slow, and systemic findings are limited. Fever and mild leukocytosis may be documented. Infections not associated with prosthetic devices are infrequent, but up to 5% of native-valve cases have been due to CoNS in some series.

HOMEOPATHIC MANAGEMENT: -

The medicines that can be thought of use are:-

• Hepar sulphur
• Hypericum
• Arsenic
• Belladonna.