SORA

Advancing, promoting and sharing knowledge of health through excellence in teaching, clinical practice and research into the prevention and treatment of illness

Implications of identifying the recently defined members of the S. aureus complex, S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri: A position paper of members of the ESCMID Study Group for staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS)

Becker, K; Schaumburg, F; Kearns, A; Larsen, A; Lindsay, JA; Skov, R; Westh, H (2019) Implications of identifying the recently defined members of the S. aureus complex, S. argenteus and S. schweitzeri: A position paper of members of the ESCMID Study Group for staphylococci and Staphylococcal Diseases (ESGS). Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 25 (9). pp. 1064-1070. ISSN 1198-743X https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2019.02.028
SGUL Authors: Lindsay, Jodi Anne

[img] Microsoft Word (.docx) Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (301kB)
[img] Microsoft PowerPoint (Figure 1) Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (100kB)

Abstract

Background Staphylococcus argenteus and Staphylococcus schweitzeri, previously known as divergent Staphylococcus aureus clonal lineages, have been recently established as novel, difficultly delimitable, coagulase-positive species within the S.aureus complex. Methicillin-resistant S.argenteus are known from Australia and U.K.. Knowledge on their epidemiology, medical significance and transmission risk is limited and partly contradictory, thus, hampering definitive recommendations. There is mounting evidence that S.argenteus´ pathogenicity is similar to “classical” S.aureus while hitherto no S.schweitzeri infections have been reported. Aim Provide decision support whether and how to distinguish and report both species. Sources PubMed search about S.argenteus and S.schweitzeri. Content This position paper reviews the main characteristics of both species and draws conclusions for microbiological diagnostics, surveillance as well as infection prevention and control measures. Implications We propose not distinguishing within the S.aureus complex for routine reporting purposes until there is evidence that pathogenicity or clinical outcome differ markedly between the different species. Primarily for research purposes, suitably equipped laboratories are encouraged to differentiate between S.argenteus and S.schweitzeri. Caution is urged if these novel species are explicitly reported. In such cases, a specific comment should be added (i.e. “member of the S.aureus complex”) to prevent confusion with less or non-pathogenic staphylococci. Prioritizing aspects of patient safety, methicillin-resistant isolates should be handled as recommended for MRSA. In these cases, the responsible clinician should be directly contacted and informed by the diagnosing microbiological laboratory, as they would be for MRSA. Research is warranted to clarify their epidemiology, clinical impact and implications for infection control.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: © 2019. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Keywords: 1103 Clinical Sciences, Microbiology
SGUL Research Institute / Research Centre: Academic Structure > Infection and Immunity Research Institute (INII)
Journal or Publication Title: Clinical Microbiology and Infection
ISSN: 1198-743X
Dates:
DateEvent
September 2019Published
11 March 2019Published Online
21 February 2019Accepted
Publisher License: Creative Commons: Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Projects:
Project IDFunderFunder ID
8037808809German Center for Infection ResearchUNSPECIFIED
I-SC121720University of MünsterUNSPECIFIED
URI: https://openaccess.sgul.ac.uk/id/eprint/110708
Publisher's version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2019.02.028

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item