Vancomycin resistance among strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis: effects on adherence to silicone.
Nosocomial device-related infections with Gram-positive cocci and their resistance to vancomycin are of increasing occurrence. We examined clinical isolates of relatively avirulent coagulase-negative staphylococci for their resistance to vancomycin and for their capabilities to adhere in vitro to medical grade silicone. Vancomycin resistance was found in 9 of 20 isolates, but there was no correlation between adherence capacity to silicone in the absence of vancomycin and vancomycin resistance for a given strain. Vancomycin in the medium, adsorbed to the surface of medical grade silicone or adsorbed on nongrowing cells, reduced adherence of representative Staphylococcus epidermidis to medical grade silicone.
Ahanotu
E N
EN
Department of Biology, Georgia Sate University, 24 Peachtree Center Avenue, Rm 402 Kell Hall, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
Stone
J H
JH
McAllister
S K
SK
Miller
J M
JM
Ahearn
D G
DG
D000327:Adsorption; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D003470:Culture Media; D012828:Silicones; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D012828:Silicones; D014640:Vancomycin