# Not Your Usual Staph: Recurrent Human Infection With the Canine-Associated Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

## TL;DR

This paper discusses a human infection caused by a dog-associated bacterium, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, which is often misidentified as a different staph species.

## Contribution

The paper presents a case of zoonotic S. pseudintermedius infection likely transmitted from a household dog, emphasizing diagnostic challenges.

## Key findings

- S. pseudintermedius infections in humans are often misidentified as S. aureus.
- Close contact with dogs may lead to zoonotic transmission of S. pseudintermedius.
- The case highlights the complicated clinical course and treatment challenges of this infection.

## Abstract

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a coagulase-positive bacterium commonly found as part of the normal flora in healthy dogs. In clinical settings, infections caused by S. pseudintermedius are often misidentified as Staphylococcus aureus due to similarities in morphology and the relative rarity of S. pseudintermedius as a documented human pathogen. Close contact with dogs has been associated with human infection, but the exact frequency and mechanism of zoonotic transmission remain unclear. Accurate and timely identification of the Staphylococcus species is essential for appropriate treatment. We present a case of S. pseudintermedius infection likely transmitted from a patient’s household dog. The zoonotic origin of the infection was initially unrecognized, as its clinical significance was misjudged. However, the patient experienced a complicated course with recurrent skin and soft tissue infections, highlighting the diagnostic and treatment challenges of zoonotic S. pseudintermedius infections.