[Infection after total hip replacement by Staphylococcus caprae. Case report and review of the literature].

We report a case of Staphylococcus caprae bone and joint infection, that illustrate difficulties to diagnose coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) orthopedic surgery infections, specially following implantation of prostheses. Four of 5 strains successivelly isolated from deep and/or peri-operative specimens during late infection after total hip replacement (THR) have been identified, using commercial systems and conventionnal tests, as S. caprae. Identity of biochemical profile, antibiotype and pulsotype of the 4 isolates confirmed the pathogenicity of this animal CNS, rarely described as a human pathogen. Analysis of the 24 S. caprae human cases previously described evidence a relation ship between this bacteria and bone and joint infections, with implantation of prosthetic material as supplementary risk factor. S. caprae, whose major identification criteria are resumed, may have previously been misidentified as some similar CNS; this bacteria is probably part of our normal flora but may be recognized as an opportunistic pathogen, responsible for both nosocomial and community acquired infections.