Pathogenic factors and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus epidermidis associated with nosocomial infections occurring in intensive care units

Brazilian Journal of Microbiology

Lessandra Michelim²  Michele Lahude¹  Patricia R. Araújo¹  Dirce S. H. Giovanaz¹  Gabriela Müller²  Ana P.l. Delamare²  Sérgio Olavo Pinto Da Costa²  Sérgio Echeverrigaray² 

[1] ,Universidade de Caxias do Sul Instituto de BiotecnologiaRS ,Brasil

关键词: Staphylococcus epidermidis;    pathogenicity factors;    antibiotic resistance;    hospital infection;    Staphylococcus epidermidis;    fatores de patogenicidade;    resistência antimicrobiana;    infecção hospitalar;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S1517-83822005000100004

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Nosocomial infections constitute an important problem in hospitals, intensive care units (ICU) having the highest incidence of this type of infection. Staphylococci, especially Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus, are among the most important microorganisms associated with nosocomial infections. S. epidermidis is a common skin resident, and can be introduced into the clinical environment by patients and hospital staff. The situation in hospitals is aggravated by the emergence of multiresistant strains. We evaluated 98 hospital S. epidermidis isolates collected at neonatal, pediatric and adult ICUs and 20 S. epidermidis control skin resident isolates from healthy volunteers, for resistance to ten antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents, and other pathogenicity factors. A high frequency (76.5%) of multiresistance was detected in clinical isolates, whereas community isolates were resistant to penicillin and ampicillin only. The frequency of multiresistant strains was 67.7% in the neonatal ICU, 66.6% in the pediatric ICU and 60.8% in the adult ICU, the lower frequency of multiresistant isolates in the adult ICU indicates a higher incidence of community strains in this unit. There were significantly higher frequencies of hemolytic, proteolytic and biofilm-forming isolates in the clinical isolates than the community isolates, indicating a higher incidence of strains with pathogenic potential in the hospital environment. Except for slight correlation with hemolytic activity there was no correlation between antibiotic multiresistance and pathogenicity factors.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
 All the contents of this journal, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License