Commensal isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis are also well equipped to produce biofilm on polystyrene surfaces.
OBJECTIVE
To study biofilm production and to detect icaAD, atlE and aap genes in 137 isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) obtained from healthy individuals from the community (35 isolates), from hospitalized patients at the Antônio Pedro University Hospital (25 isolates) and from individuals from a home-care system (HCS; 77 isolates).


METHODS
Biofilm production was determined in vitro using polystyrene inert surfaces. icaAD, atlE and aap genes were detected using PCR. Hybridization experiments were also carried out to confirm some PCR results. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out using the NCCLS methods.


RESULTS
Although many of the commensal MRSE isolates produced biofilms, the percentage of biofilm producers was significantly higher (P = 0.0107) among hospital isolates (76%) than among isolates from the community (60%) and from the HCS (57%). An association was observed between multiresistance and biofilm production for isolates obtained from healthy individuals from the community and from household contacts from the HCS (P < 0.0001). The concomitant presence of the ica operon and atlE and aap genes was associated with the strong biofilm-producer phenotype (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Because many of the commensal MRSE isolates obtained from nares produced biofilms and carried icaAD, aap and atlE genes, biofilms or such genetic elements should not be used as markers for clinical significance. The biofilm environment seems to increase genetic exchanges and hence may contribute to multiresistance phenotypes.
Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, 24241002 RJ, Brazil.
Gabrielle Luck
GL
de Araujo
Leonardo Rocchetto
LR
Coelho
Camila Barbosa
CB
de Carvalho
Rafael Muniz
RM
Maciel
Amada Zambrana
AZ
Coronado
Ronaldo
R
Rozenbaum
Bernadete Teixeira
BT
Ferreira-Carvalho
Agnes Marie Sá
AM
Figueiredo
Lenise Arneiro
LA
Teixeira
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D001483:Base Sequence; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011137:Polystyrenes; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011137:Polystyrenes