Slime producing Staphylococci from clinical specimens - a simple diagnostic test.
Coagulase negative Staphylococci are now being increasingly recognised as pathogens. Some strains produce a viscous extracellular material or slime. These strains are uniquely adapted for adherence to even smooth surfaces. Present study is a preliminary report of 101 isolates of coagulase negative Staphylococci from different clinical specimens. Forty three of these 101 isolates (42.5%) were slime producers. The percentage of slime producing Staphylococci ranged from 20% in peritoneal fluid to 66.6% in Cerebrospinal fluid. The test for slime production may have an important application in deciding the pathogenecity of the strains of coagulase negative Staphylococci and should be done routinely in a diagnostic laboratory.
Makhija
S K
SK
Bacteriology Section, Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College, Nagpur.
Jalgaonkar
S V
SV
Kher
M M
MM
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003030:Coagulase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D003030:Coagulase; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial