Staphylococcus lugdunensis (S. lugdunensis)

Staphylococcus lugdunensis is a Gram-positive, coagulase-negative bacterium (CoNS) that is a common inhabitant of the human skin flora, particularly in the perineal region (StatPearls, 2023). Despite its classification as a CoNS, it is uniquely virulent and often behaves clinically like Staphylococcus aureus, causing severe infections such as destructive infective endocarditis, skin and soft tissue infections, and prosthetic joint infections (NCBI, 2020). It is distinguished from other staphylococci by its ability to produce ornithine decarboxylase and its positive reaction in the PYR test (Wikipedia, 2024). In a therapeutic context, S. lugdunensis is not a molecular target but a pathogen; however, it is notable for producing lugdunin, a novel cyclic peptide antibiotic that may have therapeutic potential against other pathogens (Nature, 2016). Most strains remain susceptible to a wide range of antibiotics, including beta-lactams, though the formation of biofilms often necessitates aggressive surgical and pharmacological intervention (PubMed, 2021).

Other names

Coagulase-negative staphylococcusCoNSS. lugdunensis

Antibiotics targeting this bacterium function through various mechanisms including the inhibition of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis (e.g., beta-lactams and glycopeptides), inhibition of the 50S ribosomal subunit to prevent protein synthesis (e.g., oxazolidinones), or the depolarization of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane (e.g., cyclic lipopeptides) (StatPearls, 2023).