ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a normal inhabitant of the healthy human skin and mucosal microbial communities, has emerged as a common cause of numerous nosocomial infections, mostly occurring in immunocompromised hosts or patients with implanted medical devices [1]. Even though, it has a low pathogenic potential, data from the European surveillance indicated that coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated up to 40% in bloodstream infections while Staphylococcus aureus was isolated less than 20% [2]. In S. epidermidis, biofilm formation is regarded as a major pathomechanism as it renders S. epidermidis highly resistant to conventional antibiotics and host defenses. This can be caused by slow diffusion of these compounds through the extracellular polymeric matrix and slow

growth of the bacteria [3, 4]. Staphylococcal biofilm is therefore difficult to eradicate and is a source of many recalcitrant infections. As such, novel strategies or more effective agents exhibiting an antibiofilm ability with clinical efficacy and safety are of great interest.