Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Infections in Neonatal Care
Summary
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have emerged as the principal pathogens responsible for late-onset sepsis in neonatal intensive care units worldwide. These bacteria, once regarded as harmless skin commensals, exploit indwelling devices such as central venous catheters and endotracheal tubes to adhere, form biofilms and evade host defences. Preterm infants, with their immature immune systems and frequent requirement for invasive support, are particularly susceptible. In recent years there has been growing recognition of specific multidrug-resistant lineages—most notably the NRCS-A clone of Staphylococcus capitis—which persist in the neonatal environment and demonstrate reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides and antiseptics. Outbreaks often involve complex transmission pathways linking incubator surfaces, caregiver hands and the hospital environment. Management strategies now emphasise targeted antimicrobial stewardship, rigorous device management and novel approaches to disrupt biofilm formation, underscoring the need for integrated infection-control programmes.
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Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Infections in Neonatal Care publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in coagulase-negative staphylococci infections in neonatal care across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS): group of staphylococcal species lacking the coagulase enzyme, commonly implicated in device-related infections in neonates.
Late-onset sepsis (LOS): bloodstream infection occurring in neonates after 72 hours of life, typically associated with hospital-acquired pathogens.
Biofilm: structured microbial community embedded in a self-produced extracellular matrix, conferring protection against host immunity and antimicrobials.
NRCS-A clone: a predominant multidrug-resistant lineage of Staphylococcus capitis adapted for persistence and transmission in neonatal intensive care environments.
Whole-genome sequencing (WGS): comprehensive analysis of an organism’s complete DNA sequence, used to trace transmission routes and genetic adaptations of pathogens.
References
- Whole-genome sequencing reveals widespread presence of Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A clone in neonatal units across the United Kingdom. Journal of Infection (2023).
- Disinfection of incubators in neonatal intensive care units: impact of steam pulverization on bacterial colonization. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (2023).
- Characterisation of neonatal Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A isolates compared with non NRCS-A Staphylococcus capitis from neonates and adults. Microbial Genomics (2023).
- Sources and reservoirs of Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A inside a NICU. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control (2019).
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