Detection of slime production by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus: an assessment of two methods.
The detection of slime can be helpful in determining the diagnostic value of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS). Here, we have made a comparative study of two phenotypic methods of slime production test from 28 clinically significant blood culture isolates of CNS. A total 16 out of 28 isolates (57.1%) were positive for slime by either of the tests, whereas only 5 out of 28 isolates (17.9%) were positive for slime by both the tests. The tube method detected slime in significantly more number of isolates than the spectrophotometric method (14 vs. 7; p<0.0483279). A weak correlation was found between the tube method and the spectrophotometric method (rs=0.2474). The tube test was found to be superior to the spectrophotometric test in terms of sensitivity, ease of performance and interpretation, and cost effectiveness.
Department of Microbiology Jawaharlal Institute of Medical Education and Research, Pondicherry.
S
S
Karthik
S
S
Bhattacharya
B N
BN
Harish
S C
SC
Parija
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D018441:Biofilms; D003030:Coagulase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity
D003030:Coagulase