Predominant pathogen in bacterial infection of canine skin.
Rarely infects humans but poses an increased risk if methicillin resistant.
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS)
Low numbers in healthy patients are usually considered contaminants. Laboratory should be consulted before initiating therapy against them.
Methicillin
Resistance
Oxacillin is used as a marker for methicillin resistance.
Methicillin-resistant staphylococci are, by convention, resistant to all β-lactam antimicrobials (cephalosporins, penicillins, carbapenems, monobactams) and often to multiple other antimicrobials.
Interpreting
Susceptibility Results
Susceptibility results should be considered in the context of the patient’s clinical disease and antimicrobial history.
Bacterial culture has to be correlated with skin cytology to confirm that the appropriate pathogens have been cultured.
In vitro susceptibility does not always correlate with clinical response in infected animals.
