Catalase-negative Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a diabetic foot ulcer

We report a catalase-negative Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a 56-year-old male diabetic patient with foot ulcer who attended our surgery ward. Species identification was confirmed by Gram staining, standard biochemical tests and PCR amplification of the nuc and fem genes. Antibiotic susceptibility showed that the strain was sensitive to imepenem, chloramphenicol, amoxicillin, vancomycin and resistant to oxacillin, penicillin, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, clindamycin, and amikacin. Clinicians and microbiologists must be encouraged to identify and report these atypical strains and the infections associated with them in order to establish their role in pathogenesis.