Inhibition of <i>Staphylococcus</i> adherence to biomaterials by extracellular slime of <i>S. epidermidis</i> RP12

Adherence of selected strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci to various biomaterials, and the inhibition of their adherence by extracellular slime obtained from the RP12 strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis were studied in vitro. S. epidermidis RP12 adhered considerably more to polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) discs than did the SP2 strain of S. hominis and the SE-360 strain of S. hyicus. Strain RP12 was less adherent to titanium alloy, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), and Teflon discs than to PMMA discs. Exposure of PMMA discs to extracellular slime extracted from strain RP12 greatly reduced adherence of strain RP12, SP2, SE-360, and S. epidermidis RP-62A. The active component(s) was present in the > 10 kD mol wt fraction obtained by Amicon YM10 ultrafiltration of crude slime; heat treatment of the fraction did not affect its inhibitory activity. When the bacteria and RP12 slime fractions were added simultaneously to the PMMA discs, the > 10 kD mol wt fraction of slime competitively inhibited adherence of strain RP12 to PMMA discs; in contrast, the < 10 kD mol wt fraction enhanced adherence of strain RP12 to PMMA discs.