[Coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from patients. I. Biological properties and biotyping of the strains].

A total of 403 coagulase- and DNAase-negative staphylococcal strains isolated from patients with conjunctivitis, urological diseases, purulent inflammatory processes, septicemia, infected traumas, pyodermia were investigated in 18 biological tests. In a vast majority of cases the absence of correlation between the individual biological characteristics of the strains was revealed. The identification of S. epidermidis and S. saprophyticus, carried out by Akatov et al. in accordance with the schemes of the International Subcommittee, Digranes and Oeding, allowed to determine the species the organisms under test belonged to in 26%, 38% and 64% of the strains, respectively. Most of the identified strains belonged to S. epidermidis. Their biological typing by the methods of Baird-Parker and Akatov-Khatenever allowed the biotype to be determined in 79% and 69% of the cultures. Strains belonging to biotype 1 according to Baird-Peter were most frequently isolated in conjunctivitis, purulent processes and pyodermia, while strains belonging to biotype 2 according to Akatov-Khatenever were prevalent in urological diseases.