Staphylococcus lugdunensis

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a member of the genus Staphylococcus, consisting of Gram-positive bacteria with spherical cells that appear in clusters. It was first described in 1988 and was recorded as a cause of serious human infections such as endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and septicaemia. It occurs as a commensal on human skin. In the past it was frequently misidentified as S. hominis, S. aureus, or other species.

S. lugdunensis may produce a bound coagulase (that is, the enzyme is bound to the cells), a property which it shares with S. aureus, but unlike S. aureus it does not produce a free coagulase. In the laboratory it can give a positive slide-coagulase test but a negative tube-coagulase test.

S. lugdunensis is fairly easy to identify because unlike the great majority of staphylococci it decarboxylates ornithine. (Very occasional strains of other species may do the same.)

Colonies of S. lugdunensis are usually hemolytic, sticky, yellow or tan and about 2-4 mm in diameter after a 48-hour incubation. They usually have a characteristic odour.