What is Staphylococcus Epidermidis?
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium that is commonly found on human skin and mucous membranes. While it generally lives in harmony with the human body, it is a significant cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in surgical wounds, the urinary tract, or bloodstream. Since S. epidermidis adheres well to plastic or metal, it can form colonies of bacteriaopen_in_new that are resistant to immune system responses and antibiotics. S. epidermidis infection is primarily seen in individuals with indwelling medical devicesopen_in_new such as catheters, transplanted heart valves, or artificial joints.
Where Does it Colonize?
Where is it Found?
What Does it Infect?
How Does it Spread?
Preventing the Spread of Staphylococcus Epidermidis
If a hospital patient contracts an S. epidermidis infection in a wound, their sinus passages, or the bloodstream, the bacteria can be transmitted and infect others. These germs can enter the bodyopen_in_new of another individual through the hands, blood, cough secretion, wound secretion, skin contact, as well as through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces. Regular disinfection routines are an important step in preventing the transmission of these bacteria.
Get More Protection with UV Disinfection
Germicidal Ultraviolet (UV-C) disinfection can bolster existing disinfection procedures — inactivating S. epidermidis on surfaces in hospitals and other medical facilities. Shop our products at AtlanticUltraviolet.comopen_in_new.
Our germicidal lamps produce ultraviolet wavelengths at 254 nanometers, the region of maximum germicidal effectiveness. Read our FAQ blog post to learn more. See dosage data below.
Staphylococcus Epidermidis: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation
| Organism: | Alternate Name: | Type: | UV Dose*: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staphylococcus epidermidis | S. epidermidis | Bacteria | 5.80 mJ/cm2 |
* Nominal germicidal UV dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganism. See sources below.
People at High Risk for a Staphylococcus Epidermidis Infection
Since S. epidermidis adheres well to plastic and metal surfaces, the following individuals are at high risk for an infection:
- People with indwelling medical devices (catheters, drains, medical prostheses, transplanted heart valves, pacemakers, and artificial joints)
- Dialysis patients
Possible Complications from an S. Epidermidis Infection
S. epidermidis can cause several complications. If the infection passes into the bloodstream, it can cause an extreme reaction known as sepsis. It is the most frequent cause of sepsisopen_in_new contracted by hospital patients. In patients with prosthetic heart valves, Staphylococcus epidermidis can cause endocarditisopen_in_new (an inflammation of the heart’s inner lining). While S. epidermidis infections rarely develop into life-threatening diseases, their frequency — along with the fact that they are extremely difficult to treat — represents a serious burden for the public health system. The costs related to vascular catheter-related bloodstream infections caused by S. epidermidis amount to an estimated $2 billion annuallyopen_in_new in the United States alone.
Sources on Staphylococcus Epidermidis
The above information can be found on the following pages.
- NCBI: Staphylococcus epidermidis – the “accidental” pathogenopen_in_new
- Hygiene in Practice: Staphylococcus epidermidisopen_in_new
- Frontiers: Host Response to Staphylococcus epidermidis Colonization and Infectionsopen_in_new
- PubMed: S. epidermidis endocarditis and S. epidermidis infection in an intensive care unitopen_in_new
Dosage Source
Myron Lupal, “UV Offers Reliable Disinfection”, Water Conditioning & Purification, November 1993.
CM-000395