Recurrent Staphylococcus lugdunensis central nervous system infection associated with a ventricular peritoneal shunt

Abstract

A case of recurrent Staphylococcus lugdunensis central nervous system (CNS) infection associated with a ventricular peritoneal (VP) shunt is reported. A total of five S. lugdunensis isolates were isolated from the patient (four from ventricular fluid and one from a VP catheter tip). All five isolates share an indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile. A full range of conventional biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence analyses were performed to confirm identification of the organism. This is the first report of S. lugdunensis in catheter-related VP fluid infection. The isolate was capable of colonizing the CNS and was difficult to treat.