BIOFILM DETECTION AND CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS ISOLATES

CONTEXT: Isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis. AIMS: To detect biofilm among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates were collected from clinical samples like blood, IV catheter tips, catheterized urine, wound swabs and exudates received from various clinical departments. Biofilm formation was studied in these isolates. The study was carried out over a period of one year i.e from March 2011-February 2012. The specimens received were processed by conventional methods. Tissue Culture plate method was used for detection of biofilm. RESULTS: IV catheter tip samples revealed 25%, implant device associated infections revealed 20%, the Catheterized urine samples showed 16%, blood culture 8%, ventilator associated infections 10%, post-operative wound infections 11% & exudates 5% of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates. Isolates with O.D. values more than 0.2 were considered as high biofilm producers. 40% of S. epidermidis isolates were weak biofilm producers, 24% were moderate biofilm producers and 36% were high biofilm producers. Isolates from IV catheter tips showed high biofilm formation. CONCLUSIONS: In the modern health care set up, various devices such as IV catheters, urine catheters, shunts, implanted prosthetic devices etc are being increasingly used thereby causing the device associated infections particularly of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Device associated infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis are mainly due to biofilm formation which ultimately makes the treatment difficult.