Destructive native valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are uncommon causes of native valve endocarditis, and the clinical course after valvular infection with these organisms is variable. In clinical practice, species identification is frequently not done, and possible differences in the pathogenicity of various species may be unrecognized. We report a case of Staphylococcus lugdunensis native valve endocarditis associated with valve leaflet perforation and cerebral embolization. This recently described species appears to be more virulent when infecting native cardiac valves than other species of coagulase-negative staphylococci. We review S lugdunensis native valve endocarditis.