Staphylococcus epidermidis device-related infections: pathogenesis and clinical management

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most frequently isolated coagulase‐negative staphylococcus, is the leading cause of infection related to implanted medical devices (IMDs). This is directly related to its capability to establish multilayered, highly structured biofilms on artificial surfaces. At present, conventional systemic therapies using standard antimicrobial agents represent the main strategy to treat and prevent medical device‐associated infections. However, device‐related infections are notoriously difficult to treat and bacteria within biofilm communities on the surface of IMDs frequently outlive treatment, and removal of the medical device is often required for successful therapy. Importantly, major advances in this research area have been made, leading to a greater understanding of the complexities of biofilm formation of S. epidermidis and resulting in significant developments in the treatment and prevention of infections related to this member of the coagulase‐negative group of staphylococci. This review will examine the pathogenesis of the clinically significant S. epidermidis and provide an overview of the conventional and emerging antibiofilm approaches in the management of medical device‐associated infections related to this important nosocomial pathogen.

Multi drug resistance in strong biofilm forming clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis

“…When the antibiotic test results of S. epidermidis strains are examined; our findings are in agreement with those of other studies suggesting; vancomycin is the most efficient antibiotic for S. epidermidis inhibition (Al et al , 2005; Chaieb et al , 2005; McCann et al , 2008). However; deficient inhibition effect of vancomycin in biomaterial related endocarditis infections is also pointed out and the reason of this is indicated to be related with biofilm formation (Juárez-Verdayes et al , 2006).…”

Nature’s Lab for Derivatization: New and Revised Structures of a Variety of Streptophenazines Produced by a Sponge-Derived Streptomyces Strain

“…Because of its clinical relevance, Staphylococcus epidermidis was used as a test strain in this study in addition to Bacillus subtilis [13]. 3 and 9 inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis with IC 50 values of 14.5 µM and 8.4 µM, respectively.…”

Vancomycin-Resistant Gram-Positive Cocci Isolated from the Saliva of Wild Songbirds

“…Biofilm formation is usually considered a virulence factor in pathogens especially in infections related to the implanted medical devices (IMDs) [18]. Biofilms adhere to abiotic objects such as IMDs and allow bacteria to flourish, while avoiding the host immune system and antibiotic therapy.…”

“…In the case of Staphylococcus epidermidis , antibiotics may kill planktonic bacteria shed from the biofilm surface, but they fail to eradicate bacteria embedded within the biofilm, which can then act subsequently as a reservoir for recurrent infection. Following antibiotic treatment, a minority of drug-resistant bacteria survive that repopulate the biofilm with the survivors becoming much more antibiotic resistant [18]. …”