[Elastolytic activity of staphylococci isolated from human oral cavity].

Elastolytic activity of 292 strains of staphylococci isolated from saliva samples obtained from children and adults was examined. It was found that 41% of coagulase-positive and 57.1% of coagulase-negative staphylococci were able to produce elastase. The difference in production frequency in relation to the ability to produce coagulase was statistically significant (p less than 0.01). Among coagulase-negative strains in addition to S. epidermidis, S. hominis, S. saprophyticus, S. haemolyticus, S. simulans, S. capitis, S. warneri and several unidentified strains were able to produce elastase.