Slime factor positivity in coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from nasal samples of haemodialysis patients

Polysaccharide slime seems to be the most important factor by which coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) strains adheres and colonises catheters. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of slime-producing CNS strains isolated from nasal samples of patients on haemodialysis and of healthy persons as a control. Nasal cultures were performed for 131 haemodialysis patients and 56 healthy persons. CNS strains were isolated from 86 of 131 patients (72.9%), and 46 of 56 healthy persons (82.1%). Twenty-four (27.9%) of the 86 CNS strains tested in the patient group and four (8.7%) of the 46 CNS strains in the control group were slime factor positive. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in slime production between CNS strains isolated from haemodialysis patients and from control group. The detection of slime-producing coagulase-negative staphylococcus carriage in haemodialysis patients may prevent dialysis catheter-related coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections.