[Use of phenotypic methods to estimate species diversity for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis strains--comparative analysis].

Many identification and typing methods has been commonly used in microbiological laboratories. Phenotypic methods are the most frequently used. The aim of this study was to compare biochemical profiles and susceptibility patterns ofmethicillin-resistant S. epidermidis strains isolated from clinical material. 46 methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis strains were included in this study. Most of them were isolated from wound swabs (65.2%) and catheters (19.6%) from different surgical clinics (76.1%). To receive biochemical profiles ID 32 Staph tests and GPI cards of Vitek 1 were used receiving 18 and 14 profiles, respectively. 28 susceptibility patterns were obtained by disc-diffusion method and automatic system Vitek 1 using GPS-527 cards. ID 32 Staph tests and Vitek GPI cards represented the lowest discriminate power for methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis strains and they should not be recommended for typing them. Estimation of the susceptibility patterns was far more sensitive among examined phenotypic methods. Groups of strains have often the same profile received in ID 32 Staph test and Vitek GPI cards but different susceptibility.