Abstract
BackgroundThe ability of biofilm formation seems to play an essential role in the virulence of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). The most clearly characterized component of staphylococcal biofilms is the polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) encoded by the icaADBC operon. Biofilm production was studied in 80 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) strains isolated from clinical specimens of newborns with infection hospitalized at the Neonatal Unit of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine of Botucatu, and in 20 isolates obtained from the nares of healthy individuals without signs of infection. The objective was to compare three phenotypic methods with the detection of the icaA, icaD and icaC genes by PCR.FindingsAmong the 100 CNS isolates studied, 82% tested positive by PCR, 82% by the tube test, 81% by the TCP assay, and 73% by the CRA method. Using PCR as a reference, the tube test showed the best correlation with detection of the ica genes, presenting high sensitivity and specificity.ConclusionsThe tube adherence test can be indicated for the routine detection of biofilm production in CNS because of its easy application and low cost and because it guarantees reliable results with excellent sensitivity and specificity.
Highlights
The ability of biofilm formation seems to play an essential role in the virulence of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS)
Strains A total of 100 CNS isolates were studied, including 80 isolated from clinical specimens obtained from newborns hospitalized at the Neonatal Unit of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu Campus, and 20 obtained from the nares of healthy subjects
Isolates A total of 100 CNS isolates were studied, including 80 isolated from clinical specimens obtained from newborns hospitalized at the Neonatal Unit of the University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil, and 20 obtained from the nares of healthy subjects
Summary
The ability of biofilm formation seems to play an essential role in the virulence of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS). Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are the microorganisms most frequently involved in nosocomial infections among neonates. These infections are generally associated with the use of catheters and other medical devices [1]. Removal of the foreign body is often necessary for cure [2,3]. In this respect, CNS infections seem to be related to the health condition of the patient and to the production of this extracellular polysaccharide [4,5]
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