Phagocytosis and intracellular killing of coagulase-negative staphylococci.

The phagocytosis and intracellular killing of different coagulase-negative staphylococcal species by polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes from one healthy donor were compared. The uptake of strains belonging to a given species varied from 60 to 80% with an average of 70% after 20 min incubation at 37 degrees C. Up to 95% of intracellular bacteria were killed after 10 min. There was no correlation between uptake capacity and species or biotype. The average rates of phagocytosis and killing strains whether isolated from urinary tract infections or from the skin were virtually the same.