The Use of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs to Prevent Adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to Medical Polymers

The effect of salicylates and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on the production of Staphylococcus epidermidis extracellular slime was studied. A dose-related decrease in slime production was observed with increasing concentrations of salicylic acid. S. epidermidis grown in 5 mM salicylic acid were less likely to adhere to Silastic, polyvinyl chloride, polyurethane, and Teflon catheters (P less than .006); strains grown in 2 mM salicylic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, or phenylbutazone were less adherent to Silastic catheters (P less than .001). Similar results were obtained with polyurethane catheters. S. epidermidis strains were less likely to adhere (43%-82% inhibition) to polyurethane catheters treated with 500 mM salicylic acid diluted in ethanol (P less than .0001). Similar differences were not observed with acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or acetylsalicylic acid. Adherence of radiolabeled S. epidermidis to salicylic acid-treated Silastic catheters demonstrated a dose-related reduction. The use of salicylic acid to coat medical devices may decrease the incidence of device-related infection.