Staphylococcus epidermidis - MegaMicro

a.       Gram positive cocci, arranged in grape-like clusters

a.       Physiology: facultative anaerobe

                i.      Can use glucose, sucrose, and lactose

b.      Virulence factors:

                i.      Relatively avirulent

                ii.      Adhesin Polysaccharide

1.       Promotes adherence and allows the organism the ability to form  biofilms on inserted devices

2.       It produces a polysaccharide slide layer which is key to adherence

a.       Slime layer also interferes with phagocytosis.

                iii.      S. epidermidis often resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin, amoxicillin and penicillin

a.       Normal human flora

b.      Found on skin and mucosal surfaces

a.       Catalase positive

b.      Coagulase negative

c.       Non-hemolytic

d.      Sensitive to novobiocin – distinguishes it from S. saprophyticus

a.       An Opportunistic Pathogen

            i.      Nosocomial that is associated with infections of catheters, shunts and prosthetic devices and resulting in endocarditis (especially during heart valve replacement), wound infections, urinary tract infections