Biofilm Formation and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis Strains from a Hospital Environment

Abstract

The hospital environment microflora comprise a wide variety of microorganisms which are more or less pathogenic and where staphylococci are one of the most common types. The aim of the presented study was to evaluate the prevalence of the biofilm forming coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) in a hospital environment as a risk factor for nosocomial infections. Among 122 isolated and tested strains of CoNS the most frequent were: S. epidermidis—32 strains, S. haemolyticus—31 strains, S. capitis subsp. capitis—21 strains, S. hominis—11 strains, S. cohnii subsp. cohnii—nine strains. In case of CoNS, the main molecule responsible for intercellular adhesion is a polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA), encoded on the ica gene operon. The analysis revealed the presence of the icaADBC operon genes in 46.88% of S. epidermidis isolates. IcaA and icaD were present in 34.38% and 28.13% of strains respectively while IcaC gene was present in 37.50% of strains. IcaB gene was found in 21.88% of S. epidermidis strains. In 15 (63%) strains all icaADBC operon genes were observed. The assessment of antibacterial drugs susceptibility demonstrated that analyzed CoNS strains were highly resistant to macrolides and lincosamides and more sensitive to rifampicin and linezolid. Our data indicates that the hospital environment can be colonized by biofilm forming coagulase-negative staphylococci and transmission of these strains can cause an increased risk of serious nosocomial infections.

Health Care Workers’ Use and Cleaning of X‐Ray Aprons and Thyroid Shields

“…These survey findings and the literature 14,16 emphasize the need for evidence‐based practice guidelines that clearly delineate effective spot and hospital or facility standard cleaning practices to prevent bacterial growth and SSIs 14‐19 . Survey findings and the literature also showed that HCWs wear aprons and thyroid shields in hospitals or facilities where standard cleaning policies or procedures are lacking 14…”

“…Coagulase‐negative Staphylococcus is a major health care–associated pathogen that colonizes the skin 17 . The presence of normal skin flora that produces biofilm is an increased risk factor for SSIs 18 . In orthopedic surgeries involving implantation of prosthetic joints, such biofilms lead to the “microbial seeding” of implanted prosthetics 19 …”

Prevalence of biofilm controlling ica genes of Staphylococcus epidermidis detected in healthy skin, blood samples from septicaemia patients and chronic wounds

“…30,31 Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) such as S. epidermidis can cause serious hospital acquired infections and is a biofilm producing species. 32 Most common victims of S. epidermidis infection are premature newborns, patients with leukaemia, intravenous drug abuse, other malignancies and patients with indwelling polymer bodies, such as prosthetic devices or intravenous catheters. 33,34 The extracellular Polysaccharide Adhesins (PSA) is a significant virulence determinant and is required for biofilm formation and adhesion, which is encoded by the ica operon, and is subjected to phase variable regulation, and an on and off switching mechanism.…”

“…35 Polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) is the main component involved in intercellular adhesion by staphylococci. 32,36 Stevens et al studied various protein components including PIA of biofilm in S. epidermidis and have suggested that PIA has a primary role in biofilm positivity while protein components contribute significantly towards the maturation of the biofilm. 37,38 PIA synthesis requires the presence of the ica operon because the enzymes which are involved in its synthesis are controlled by the intercellular adhesion operon (ica ADBC).…”

Survival of Staphylococcus aureus with different characteristics (antibiotic susceptibility, presence ica of gene, and colony morphology) in biofilms on stainless steel

“…The Congo red agar method does not quantitatively detect strong biofilms, which is measured by crystal violet staining (Croes et al, ). Additionally, slime‐positive strains on Congo‐red agar are not correlated with antibiotic sensitivity and biofilms (Wojtyczka et al, ).…”