[Evaluation of 2 methods for studying slime production by coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strains]

The surface hydrophobicity and the slime production of 46 coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from the urine, blood and skin were evaluated. The hydrophobicity values were very heterogeneous and did not correlate with the species, origin or slime production. Slime production was evaluated by the classical tube method and by a micromethod with spectrophotometric readings. There was a high correlation between both methods, but the results were more reproducible and quantifiable with the latter. Twenty-six of the evaluated species produced some degree of slime. This feature did not correlate with their origin or species. The preincubation of 5 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis with subinhibitory concentrations of vancomycin, clindamycin and amikacin did not influence slime production, whereas ciprofloxacin slightly inhibited it in two strains and oxacillin completely inhibited slime production in the five evaluated strains.