Importance of medium and atmosphere type to both slime production and adherence by coagulase-negative staphylococci

Marked differences in both the production of slime and adherence by Staphylococcus epidermidis were observed when comparing four culture media. Slime isolated from a strain cultured in a chemically defined medium (HHW) in air was chemically indistinguishable from that formed in both HHW and synthetic dialysis fluid (SDF) in air with 5% CO2. The presence of a physiological level of CO2 during culture in tryptone soya broth (TSB) prevented production of slime. It was not possible to separate the constituents of slime from those of the culture medium in bacteria grown in TSB in air using DEAE cellulose. Slime production was notably poor in used peritoneal dialysis fluid (PUD). Adherent growth was marked in HHW and SDF but was poor in TSB and PUD when air with 5% CO2 was used. These findings emphasize the advantages in using chemically defined and biological fluids when studying slime production and adherence by S. epidermidis.