Characterization of <i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i> clinical isolates from hospitalized patients with bloodstream infection obtained in two time periods

Abstract

We identified 14 antibiotic resistance profiles as well as 13 sequence types (ST), including the new ST761. We also found that ST2 and ST23 were the most prevalent and, together with ST59, were found in both time periods. Seventeen of our clinical isolates were multidrug-resistant, but all of them were sensitive to linezolid and vancomycin, and this was not related to biofilm production. Additionally, we standardized a duplex PCR to identify methicillin-resistant <i>S. epidermidis</i> strains. In conclusion, <i>S. epidermidis</i> STs 2, 23, and 59 were found in both time periods. This study is the first report of <i>S. epidermidis</i> ST761. The clinical isolates obtained in this work showed a high multidrug resistance that is apparently not related to biofilm production.