S. epidermidis belongs to the group of coagulase-negative
staphylococci, which is distinguished from S. aureus, coagulasepositive
staphylococci, by lacking the enzyme coagulase.
S. epidermidis usually has a benign relationship with its host.
Furthermore, while S. epidermidis may have a probiotic function by
preventing colonization of more pathogenic bacteria, there is no
clear evidence indicating how S. epidermidis impacts colonization of
other microorganisms in vivo (Otto, 2009).