Comparative behavior of E. coli and S. aureus regarding attachment to and removal from a polymeric surface.

Staphylococcus aureus was found to attach more readily on polypropylene fibers with greater resistance to subsequent washing off than Escherichia coli after immersion of the fibers up to 300 s in pure culture suspensions in mineral salts medium. Each of five different washing solutions were effective against E. coli, whereas only a solution that contained SDS was effective against S. aureus. Placement of inoculated fibers on nutrient agar for longer periods of time resulted in greater resistance to washing by both organisms, although S. aureus remained more resistant than E. coli.