Large vegetations in Staphylococcus lugdunensis endocarditis

Staphylococcus lugdunensis, a recently described coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, is increasingly being recognized as a cause of a highly aggressive and destructive form of native valve endocarditis. We describe a pediatric case associated with large vegetations requiring surgical intervention. Careful attention to microbiologic methods will avoid misidentification and inappropriate management.