Slime production by coagulase-negative staphylococci in the infected pulps.

In this study; slime factor which is produced by coagulase negative Staphylococci was investigated in infected pulps of 145 primary and permanent teeth. Staphylococci were isolated in 27% of the cultures and all of the isolated Staphylococci were coagulase negative (CNS) in permanent teeth whereas 75% of isolated Staphylococci were coagulase negative in primary teeth. Slime production rate was the same for both groups and 22% of CNS were found slime positive. It is thought that slime production is important not only in endodontic microbiology, but also in other fields of dentistry for the explanation of the pathogenesis of infection.