Slime production by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains isolated from patients with diabetic foot ulcers

Abstract

Slime production is a very important factor related to biofilm formation. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of slime production by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains recovered from 50 patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Slime production was determined using the Congo red agar (CRA) method and compared with immunocytochemistry for the production of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA). Out of 55 S. aureus strains, 69% produced slime as shown by the CRA method. Of them, 84.2% also produced PIA. Of 17 CRA-negative strains, 70.6% produced PIA. Out of 20 S. epidermidis strains, 75% were CRA positive and 93.3% produced PIA. All CRA-negative S. epidermidis produced PIA. In conclusion, PIA production is a very common trait of S. aureus and S. epidermidis isolates obtained from diabetic foot ulcer patients.