Surface Properties Of Staphylococcus Saprophyticus and Staphylococcus Epidermidis as Studied by Adherence Tests and Two‐Polymer, Aqueous Phase Systems

Abstract

S. saprophyticus, an established pathogen in man, is devoid of characteristics associated with pathogenicity in S. aureus. The ability of this species to attach to cells from regions, (the urinary tract) where it acts as an invader and to cells from areas where it is a commensal was compared to the behavior of S. epidermidis. S. saprophyticus showed a preferential adherence to human exfoliated urogenital cells when compared with its ability to attach to human and porcine skin and buccal cells. The profound ability to adhere to human exfoliated urogenital epithelial cells by far exceeded that of S. epidermidis; no species difference was found when testing porcine cells. When studied in a 2-polymer, aqueous phase system, S. saprophyticus and S. epidermidis had a negative surface charge at pH 7.2 but the former carried a considerably higher surface charge density. Both staphylococcal species exhibited a poor hydrophobic interaction liability. These physico-chemical surface characteristics are briefly discussed with regard to the differential bacteria-cell interactions of these species.