COMPARISON BETWEEN METHODS FOR DETECTION OF BIOFILM PRODUCED BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS
Staphylococcus epidermidis, one of the most problematic nosocomial infections that can adhere to the catheters, prosthetic joints and artificial heart valves and produce biofilms. In this study three methods for biofilm detection were used and statistical comparison between them has been demonstrated. Sixty five isolates of the bacterium were obtained from different samples of Iraqi patients. Fourteen percent (14%) of these isolates were classified as biofilm producers. Tube method (TM), congo red agar (CRA) and tissue culture plate (TCP) methods were used for biofilm detection. Statistical analysis of the results has shown that CRA method was less accurate with 75%, 73.6% sensitivity and specificity respectively. TM had 100%, 98.25% sensitivity and specificity respectively. TCP was considered as gold standard for this comparison