What feature characterizes Staphylococcus epidermidis in clinical specimens?

Staphylococcus epidermidis, a coagulase-negative staphylococcus, is notable for its role as a common skin inhabitant and its association with opportunistic infections, particularly in individuals with indwelling medical devices. The characteristic that distinguishes it in clinical specimens is its high resistance to antibiotics. This resistance is primarily due to the production of biofilms on medical devices and its ability to acquire genetic elements that confer resistance to multiple antibiotics. This makes infections caused by S. epidermidis challenging to treat, as standard antibiotic therapies may be ineffective.

In clinical settings, the opportunistic nature of S. epidermidis means it is often associated with infections such as bacteremia, endocarditis, and infections associated with prosthetic devices. The organism's intrinsic resistance mechanisms, such as the ability to alter drug targets and efflux pumps, contribute to this high resistance profile, making recognition of this feature crucial for effective patient management and treatment strategies.

While some strains of S. epidermidis do produce beta-lactamase, thereby providing resistance to certain beta-lactam antibiotics, the overall diversity in resistance patterns makes the broad statement of high antibiotic resistance a more encompassing characteristic of this species. S. epidermidis is not lactose fermenting, and it is coagul