Clinical significance of Nosocomiicoccus ampullae isolated from blood cultures

Microbiol Spectr. 2023 Dec 12;11(6):e0217923. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.02179-23. Epub 2023 Oct 19.

Abstract

Nosocomiicoccus species are recently described as members of the Staphylococcaceae family. With their inclusion in commercial matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry databases, Nosocomiicoccus species can now be identified when Gram-positive cocci in clusters are detected in positive blood cultures. However, their clinical significance is not known, making it difficult for the clinical microbiology laboratory to decide the extent of work-up. Based on our study, Nosocomiicoccus species demonstrate low pathogenicity and opportunistic potential. If isolated from a single blood culture set, limited work-up should be performed to an extent similar to other possible blood culture contaminants.

Keywords: Nosocomiicoccus; blood culture contaminant; bloodstream infections.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia* / microbiology
  • Blood Culture*
  • Clinical Relevance
  • Humans
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / methods
  • Staphylococcaceae

Supplementary concepts

  • Nosocomiicoccus ampullae