Molecular aspects of bacterial adhesion, colonization, and development of infections associated with biomaterials.

Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci of species commonly isolated from biomaterial-associated infections commonly express fibronectin-binding surface proteins and the ability to interact with collagen. These findings, as well as the ability of coagulase-negative staphylococci to produce surface slime or capsular material, are presented as alternative models for how biofilms develop on biomaterial surfaces. Further knowledge of how bacteria and eukaryotic cells interact with various biomaterials will stimulate the development of better tissue implant devices to avoid biomaterial-associated infections.