Molecular studies of Staphylococcus epidermidis

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a conspicuous member of the human microbiome, widely present on human skin. The shift in modern medicine towards invasive procedures has favoured its emergence as a significant nosocomial pathogen, especially in the setting of prosthetic devices. Despite being the most genetically diverse of the staphylococcal species, with 989 S. epidermidis multilocus sequence types characterised thus far, a single lineage, ST2, accounts for most clinical disease. Unfortunately, existing typing schemes lack the sensitivity to offer any epidemiological insights beyond this. Furthermore, the absence of dedicated molecular tools coupled with the genetically intractable nature of ..