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Strong slime production is a marker of clinical significance in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from intravascular catheters

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgements

Part of this study was presented at the IDSA Annual Meeting (San Diego, October 4–7, 2007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Microbiology Department, Hospital Central de la Defensa Gómez-Ulla, Gta. del Ejército s/n, 28007, Madrid, Spain

    M. Mateo & J. R. Maestre

  2. Microbiology Department, School of Medicine, Universidad Complutense, Avda. Complutense s/n, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    L. Aguilar, M. J. Giménez & J. Prieto

  3. Granadatos SL, c/ Demetrio de la Guerra 4, 28223, Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain

    J. J. Granizo

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  1. M. Mateo
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  2. J. R. Maestre
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  3. L. Aguilar
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  4. M. J. Giménez
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  5. J. J. Granizo
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  6. J. Prieto
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Correspondence to L. Aguilar.

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Mateo, M., Maestre, J.R., Aguilar, L. et al. Strong slime production is a marker of clinical significance in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from intravascular catheters. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 27, 311–314 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0433-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0433-y

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