Mucin production by Staphylococcus epidermidis. A virulence factor promoting adherence to vascular grafts.

The production of an exopolysaccharide (mucin) by some Staphylococcus epidermidis strains facilitates bacterial adhesion to prosthetic vascular grafts and may play an important role in adherence-mediated growth. An in vitro model was developed to measure the differential adherence of mucin-producing (RP-12) and nonmucin-producing (SP-2) S epidermidis strains onto expanded polytef and velour knitted Dacron graft material. After incubation in a 10(7)/mL suspension of organisms, graft specimens were repeatedly washed to remove nonadherent organisms and then sonicated to dislodge adherent organisms. Bacterial adherence was calculated from a quantitative culture of the sonication effluent. Both S epidermidis strains adhered in ten to 100 times greater numbers to the knitted Dacron graft material than to expanded polytef. The production of an exopolysaccharide by the RP-12 strain significantly increased adherence to both graft types compared with the SP-2 strain. The increased adherence of the RP-12 strain was inhibited by adding D-mannosamine to the inoculum. The in vitro model developed is well suited for further study of the mechanisms by which bacteria adhere to and colonize vascular grafts.