Abstract

CHAVES, Esteban; ROJAS, Juan Alberto; RIVERA, Patricia  and  HERNANDEZ, Francisco. Prevalencia de Cepas de Staphylococcus productoras de biopelícula y con receptores FC aislados de muestras clínicas y de individuos sanos. Rev. costarric. cienc. méd [online]. 2000, vol.21, n.1-2, pp.51-56. ISSN 0253-2948.

Biofilm production and the presence of Fc receptors in Staphylococcus are virulence factors easily detected in vitro. The former allows colonization of internal surfaces and incorporates host proteins, that protect the bacteria from the immune system. This effect is increased with the presence of Fc receptors that cover the bacteria with immunoglobulins. However in a recent paper, we demonstrated that Staphylococcus with this factors were efficiently phagocitated by poly morphonuclear leukocytes. Both, biofilm production and the presence of Fc receptors, were evaluated in 57 strains of Sta phylococcus (29 S. aureus and 28 S. epidermidis) and 64 strains of S. epidermidis isolated from health persons. The biofllm was evidenced by safranin staining in the culture tubes. The Fc receptors were tested by haemagglutination, using A type erythrocytes that attached to homologous anti group A antibodies previously linked to the Fc receptors of the bacteria. Fc receptors were evidenced in 79% of the strains of S. aureus and 89 % of S. epidermidis from clinical cases, and only in the 41% of S. epidermidis from healthy persons. Biofilm was detected in 45% of S. aureus and 32% of S. epidermidis from clinical cases, and in 74% of S. epidermidis from healthy persons. The high proportion of healthy persons with strains potentially able to colonize internal surfaces emphasizes the need to follow aseptic techniques when drawn when using in dwelling catheters.

Keywords : biofilm; Fc receptors.