Slime production is essential for the adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis in implant-related infections

A total of 32 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from indwelling device-related infections such as endophthalmitis following intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, intravenous catheter-related sepsis and orthopaedic implant infections, were studied for slime production and adherence to artificial surfaces. Of these, 21 (65.6%) isolates were slime positive by the Congo Red agar method and 24 (75%) were adherent to artificial surfaces by the quantitative slime test. The majority (19 out of 24; 79.1%) of the adherent bacteria were slime producers. Antibody to slime raised in rabbits was able to inhibit the adherence of all 24 bacteria designated as adherent by our quantitative test. It seems that slime is indispensable for the sessile mode of attachment, leading further to the development of biofilms on the indwelling devices.