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

<i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> is a coagulase-positive bacterium commonly found as part of the normal flora in healthy dogs. In clinical settings, infections caused by <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> are often misidentified as <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> due to similarities in morphology and the relative rarity of <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> 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 <i>Staphylococcus</i> species is essential for appropriate treatment. We present a case of <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> 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 <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> infections.