Strong slime production is a marker of clinical significance in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from intravascular catheters.
Biofilm production was assessed in 52 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from the catheters of 52 patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) and compared with 14 isolates from the skin of healthy volunteers by spectrophotometry. The isolates were classified as non- (G1), weak- (G2) or strong- (G3) slime producers based on optical density, and as producers and non-producers based on the results of the Congo red agar test. Differences (p = 0.012) in the proportion of G1, G2 and G3 among the isolates were found between catheter and healthy skin strains: there was a higher percentage of G1 types among the healthy skin strains (35.7 vs. 11.5%; p = 0.046) and a higher percentage of G3 types among the catheter isolates (44.2 vs. 0%; p = 0.001). No significant differences were found with the Congo red agar test. G3 is a phenotypic marker for CR-BSI.
Mateo
M
M
Microbiology Department, Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez-Ulla, Gta. del Ejército s/n, 28007 Madrid, Spain.
Maestre
J R
JR
Aguilar
L
L
Giménez
M J
MJ
Granizo
J J
JJ
Prieto
J
J
D018441:Biofilms; D015415:Biomarkers; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers