Comparative Genomics Study of Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolates from Orthopedic-Device-Related Infections Correlated with Patient Outcome

摘要

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common member of the human skin microflora, predominant in moist sites such as nares or fossae and in sebaceous areas such as the facial skin. With the advent of implanted and indwelling medical devices, S. epidermidis has emerged as a prominent cause of nosocomial and device-associated infections (1, 2). The microorganism's ability to switch from a commensal to pathogenic lifestyle is facilitated by its ability to rapidly attach to, and form biofilms upon, medical devices. In the case of orthopedic-device-related infections (ODRI), S. epidermidis accounts for up to 43% of cases and is second only to Staphylococcus aureus as the most prevalent causative organism (1, 2).