Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci in Bacteraemia: The Epidemiology, Predisposing Factors, Pathogenicity and Antimicrobial Resistance

Staphylococcus species are the predominant Gram-positive organisms obtained from blood culture samples. Its incidence in bloodstream infection among children is very and also varies among adults. Staphylococcus aureus is regarded as pathogenic with high morbidity and mortality while coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are often regarded as a contaminant and not a true cause of bacteremia despite its rising occurrence. Predisposing factors of staphylococcal bacteremia include malnutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS and nosocomial infections. Methicillin-resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS in bacteremia is associated with an increase in multidrug-resistant virulent strains when compared to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus or CoNS. The impact of coagulase-negative Staphylococci in bacteremia is on the increase with marked clinical complications. However, this review summarizes the prevalence and epidemiology of S. aureus and CoNS in bacteremia based on research outcomes in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.