Slime production, hemolysis and proteolysis in coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated in hemoculture from humans

Of 162 strain of coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from haemocultures most frequently the following were identified: S. epidermidis (56.8%), S. haemolyticus (17.3%) and S. hominis (14.2%). By means of the STAPHYtest first 138 strains were assessed (85.2%). Mucus formation was proved in 26 strains (16.0%) of six different species. Haemolytic activity was present in 131 strains (80.9%) in seven species, significantly more frequently in S. haemolyticus. Proteolytic activity was displayed by 118 strains (72.8%) of all nine identified species, significantly more often in S. epidermidis. Mucus and protease formation, haemolysin and protease formation as well as simultaneous formation of all three factors was observed most frequently in S. epidermidis. Strains of S. epidermidis thus have more frequently signs considered virulence factors than strains of the other species of coagulase negative staphylococci.