CoNS are generally less virulent than S. aureus but are important and common causes of prosthetic-device infections.

• Of CoNS species, S. epidermidis most often causes disease. This organism is a normal component of the skin, oropharyngeal, and vaginal flora.
• S. saprophyticus is a common cause of UTIs.
• S. lugdunensis and S. schleiferi are more virulent than other CoNS species and cause serious infections, possibly because they apparently share more virulence determinants with S. aureus than do other CoNS species.