The newly-recognized species Staphylococcus massiliensis is likely to be part of the human skin microflora.

Staphylococcus massiliensis is a newly-recognized species but its ecological niche and its role in infection remained unclear. Clinical isolate WCG21 recovered from a wound sample was initially identified as Staphylococcus simulans by the WalkAway automated system but was subsequently identified as S. massiliensis by partially sequencing the 16S rRNA and dnaJ genes. Strain WCG21 was probably a contaminant rather than a pathogen. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of several bacterial clones from human skin were also identical or near identical to that of S. massiliensis, suggesting that this species is part of human skin microflora. Although strain WCG21 was susceptible to a wide range of antimicrobials, it harbored a type V staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec.