[Gram-positive cocci isolated from blood].

Between 1994 and 1997, the main organisms isolated from the blood of patients examined in our laboratory were staphylococci. Namely 216 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 194 strains of Staphylococcus aureus and 81 strains of other coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from patient blood. Regarding S. aureus, MRSA strains were predominant and 140 strains of MRSA were isolated from patient blood. S. epidermidis and MRSA were mainly isolated from patients will indwelling intravenous catheters. In some cases showing positive culture of S. epidermidis, however, the probability of contamination while taking the blood samples could not be excluded. A survey of infective endocarditis between April 1987 and March 1997 revealed that the main causative organism of native valve endocarditis was still streptococci. Of 33 cases of native valve endocarditis, 18 cases were due to viridans streptococci.