Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

2001

Department

Biochemistry, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major cause of infections associated with indwelling medical devices. Biofilm production is an important virulence attribute in the pathogenesis of device-related infections. Therefore, elimination of these biofilms is an ideal treatment. Salicylate (5 mM) combined with 1 μg of vancomycin per ml inhibited biofilm formation by S. epidermidis (RP62A) by ≥99.9%. When biofilm-coated polystyrene beads were exposed to 5 mM sodium salicylate and 4 μg of vancomycin per ml (one-half the minimum biofilm eradication concentration), there was a >99.9% reduction in viable count.

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