title: Prevalence of Virulence-Related Determinants in Clinical Isolates ofStaphylococcus epidermidis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Staphylococcus epidermidis, a member of the human flora, is recognized as an opportunistic pathogen and cause of nosocomial infections.Staphylococcus epidermidissurface components are able to establish bacteria on the host surface, and cause infection.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The frequency oficaA,IS256,aap,fbeandbhpin clinical isolates ofS. epidermidiswere investigated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-nineS. epidermidisisolates were collected from blood (50), wound (1), urine (4) and tracheal (4) samples (Tehran, Iran).Staphylococcus epidermidisisolates were identified with conventional bacteriological tests. Virulence-associated genes were detected by specific polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 59S. epidermidis,fbewas found in 89.8%, whileaapandbhpwere observed in 64.4% and 15.3% of the samples, respectively. Coexistence ofaapandfbewas found in 32 isolates, while coexistence ofbhpandfbewas observed in five isolates. Two isolates were negative for the investigated genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence offbeandaapwas significantly different from similar studies, yet frequency ofbhpwas in accordance with other studies. Prevalence oficaAandIS256was not significantly different from some studies while a significant difference was observed when results were compared with some other studies.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Shahin
authors: S
authors: Najar Peerayeh
authors: Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, IR Iran.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Jazayeri Moghadas
authors: Department of Genetic, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Mehrdad
authors: M
authors: Behmanesh
keywords: Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus epidermidis; Virulence Factors