| The most common pathogens were coagulase negative staphylococci, escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. |
| Unlike staphylococci, which tend to cause localised infections such as abscesses, streptococci are essentially organisms that spread. |
| The clinical presentation of systemic infection, particularly with coagulase negative staphylococci, can be insidious. |
| Patients with blood cultures positive for coagulase-negative staphylococci or other common skin contaminants were not classified as bacteremic. |
| Other agents occasionally implicated are pneumococci, staphylococci, streptococci, and Candida albicans. |
| Gram-negative streptococci and staphylococci can be distinguished by their characteristic appearance under high-powered magnification. |
