1996 Volume 59 Issue 3 Pages 259-264
In order to examine the pathogenicity of 75 methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) from the nasal cavities of the medical staff at Osaka Dental University Hospital, we tested for the production of hydrolytic enzymes and attempted rapid identification using N-ID TEST. SP-18. The distribution of lecithinase, lipase and β-lactamase producers was 28, 28 and 13%, respectively. However, none of the MRCNS strains produced DNase, hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulfatase, collagenase, trypsin or chymotrypsin.
A significant number of MRCNS strains were rapidly identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis (94%). More than half of these strains were not producers of enzymes, and the others were classified into 4 types according to their hydrolytic enzyme production.
These results indicate that the pathogenic potential of the MRCNS strains isolated was not high and that these strains could be classified into various types. Shika lgaku (J Osaka Odontol Soc) 1996 Sept; 59(3):259-264.
