Comparison of slime-producing coagulase-negative Staphylococcus colonization rates on vinyl and ceramic tile flooring materials

J Int Med Res. 2009 May-Jun;37(3):668-73. doi: 10.1177/147323000903700309.

Abstract

This study investigated the colonization of slime-producing coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) in 80 patient wards in Turkey (40 vinyl and 40 ceramic tile floors). A total of 480 samples that included 557 CoNS isolates were obtained. Slime production was investigated with the Christensen method and methicillin-susceptibility was tested by the disk-diffusion method. There was a significant difference in the percentage of slime-producing CoNS isolates on vinyl (12.4%) versus ceramic tile flooring (4.4%). From vinyl flooring, the percentage of slime producing methicillin-resistant CoNS (MRCoNS) (8.9%) was significantly higher than for methicillin-sensitive CoNS (MSCoNS) (3.6%), whereas there was no difference from ceramic tile flooring (2.5% MRCoNS versus 1.8% MSCoNS). The most commonly isolated slime-producing CoNS species was S. epidermidis on both types of flooring. It is concluded that vinyl flooring seems to be a more suitable colonization surface for slime-producing CoNS than ceramic tile floors. Further studies are needed to investigate bacterial strains colonized on flooring materials, which are potential pathogens for nosocomial infections.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Ceramics / pharmacology*
  • Coagulase / metabolism*
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Construction Materials / microbiology*
  • Floors and Floorcoverings*
  • Staphylococcus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus / enzymology*
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Vinyl Compounds / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Coagulase
  • Vinyl Compounds