Primary osteomyelitis and suppurative arthritis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci in a preterm neonate.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are a major cause of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care unit patients. These infections are usually related to the presence of intravascular devices. An 1175-g preterm neonate developed primary osteomyelitis and septic arthritis by coagulase-negative staphylococci in the absence of any indwelling central catheters.