DIFFERENTIAL INHIBITION BY CLINDAMYCIN ON SLIME FORMATION, ADHERENCE TO TEFLON CATHETERS AND HEMOLYSIN PRODUCTION BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS

Slime formation was detected in Staphylococcus epidermidis strains iso lated from either infected patients or healthy individuals. Cells of S . epidermidis, that either formed slime or not, adhered to teflon cath eters. There was no correlation between adherence of bacteria to teflo n catheters and slime formation. Clindamycin at subinhibitory concentr ation significantly inhibited slime formation without inhibiting bacte rial growth. Adherence of S. epidermidis to teflon catheters was affec ted by the presence of clindamycin whether slime was produced or not. Clindamycin at subinhibitory concentrations markedly inhibited hemolys in production by S. epidermidis without appreciably altering the cell density, and cells grown in the presence of the drug showed very low h emolytic activity upon disruption. These results suggest that clindamy cin at low concentration alters S. epidermidis virulence properties, a part from inhibiting growth.