Virulence
The organism produces slime layers, which forms a hydrophobic biofilm. This film is adhesive to hydrophobic biopolymers of prosthetics, creating diseases such as endocarditis. The gene icaADBC has been found to code for both the polysaccharide capsule and the polysaccharide intracellular adhesin used in biofilm formation. The biofilm of S. epidermidis consists of clusters of cells that are embedded in extracellular slime substance that is up to 160 micrometers thick, exceeding 50 cells. Biofilms as such act as a diffusion barrier to antibiotics and host defense. (Nilsson, et al. 1998)