[Risk of coagulase-negative staphylococci infections in catheterized patients due to adhesion and slime production].

Unlabelled: Coagulase-negative staphylococci are important causes of infections associated with biomaterials, e.g. catheters. Aim of the study was to determine pathogenic traits of S. epidermidis: slime producing and adhesion to biomaterials.

Materials And Methods: The researches have been done on S. epidermidis strains isolated from newborns hospitalized on BCU. Defining an ability of slime production was done by means plate method--according to Christensen. Adhesive abilities of the strains to biomaterials were analyzed by means of Richard's and co. method which consist in estimating the level of a substrates's reduction--TTC (2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride) to an insoluble formazan.

Results: Among 41 S. epidermidis strains 68% labeled as slime producing and 32% as non-producing. Most of slime producing strains showed reduction value of TTC at +4 and +3. All non-producing S. epidermidis strains showed reduction value of TTC at 2+.

Conclusion: The strains producing slime displayed greater adhesive abilities in comparison to the non-producing ones.