Staphylococcus epidermidis - Microbiology

Snapshot
- A 65-year-old man presents to the emergency department with a headache, nausea, and altered mental status. His symptoms developed a few days ago and have since worsened. He was recently diagnosed with normal-pressure hydrocephalus and had placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. Physical examination is notable for diffuse abdominal pain. Direct aspiration of the cerebral spinal fluid shunt is obtained, and CSF analysis demonstrates a leukocytosis, elevated protein, and decreased glucose. CSF Gram stain demonstrates gram-positive cocci in clusters. CSF cultures are pending. Preparations are made for removal of the shunt and he is started on vancomycin and ceftazidime.