Staphylococcus epidermidis device-related infections: pathogenesis and clinical management.

Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequently isolated coagulase-negative staphylococcus, is the leading cause of infection related to implanted medical devices (IMDs). This is directly related to its capability to establish multilayered, highly structured biofilms on artificial surfaces. At present, conventional systemic therapies using standard antimicrobial agents represent the main strategy to treat and prevent medical device-associated infections.