Functional study of antibodies against a fibrogenin-binding protein in Staphylococcus epidermidis adherence to polyethylene catheters.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is an important pathogen in foreign body-associated infections. In a previous study, we showed that a surface-located fibrinogen-binding protein, termed Fbe, from S. epidermidis mediated the bacterial adherence to fibrinogen-coated surfaces in vitro. In the present study, we demonstrate that antibodies against Fbe can block adherence of S. epidermidis to fibrinogen-coated catheters, subcutaneously implanted catheters from rats, and peripheral venous catheters from human patients.