Environmental regulation of biofilm formation in intensive care unit isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 212 - 218
• Main Authors: Fitzpatrick, F., Humphreys, H., Smyth, E., Kennedy, C.A., O'Gara, J.P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Biofilm formation, ica operon, environmental regulation, clinical isolates; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Cross Infection - etiology; Cross Infection - prevention & control; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Equipment Contamination - prevention & control; Equipment Contamination - statistics & numerical data; Hospitals, Teaching; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infection Control; Infectious diseases; Intensive Care Units; Ireland; Medical sciences; Methicillin Resistance - genetics; Operon - genetics; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polysaccharides, Bacterial - genetics; Prospective Studies; Staphylococcal Infections - etiology; Staphylococcal Infections - prevention & control; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections; Staphylococcus epidermidis - genetics; Staphylococcus epidermidis - growth & development; Ireland; Biofilm formation, ica operon, environmental regulation, clinical isolates; Nosocomial infection; Biofilm formation; clinical isolates; Intensive care unit; environmental regulation; Infection; Pathogenicity; Microbiological investigation; Staphylococcus epidermidis; ica operon; Bacteriosis; Biofilm; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Environment; Micrococcaceae; Staphylococcal infection; Formation; Clinical isolate

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common cause of prosthetic device-related infection in the intensive care unit (ICU). The environmentally regulated ica operon encodes a polysaccharide adhesin which is a key virulence determinant in the development of S. epidermidis biofilms. To evaluate the capacity...