ADHERENCE CHARACTERISTICS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS AND COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM VARIOUS SKIN-LESIONS

We investigated the adherence characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) isolated from various skin lesions by examining hydrophobicity, negative charge, tube adherence, slime production, and promotion of adherence to coverslips by blood p roteins. Our results in the present study indicate that high hydrophob icity and high capacity for adhesion to tubes with slime production ar e much more detected in CNS from infective origin than in those from c olonization origin. The results also indicate that host plasma tends t o enhance adherence of S. aureus to coverslips, but it does not enhanc e adherence of most coagulase-negative staphylococci to coverslips. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.