MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS EPIDERMIDIS, IMPLICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW ANTIBIOTICS

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a Gram-positive coccus that is a commensal of human skin and mucous membranes and, despite its low intrinsic virulence, has emerged as one of the main etiological agents of healthcare-associated infections. This clinical relevance is mainly due to its extraordinary ability to adapt to the hospital environment, its capacity to form biofilms on medical devices, and the progressive acquisition of multiple resistance mechanisms to currently available antimicrobials. The continuous increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains has drastically reduced effective therapeutic options, making the treatment of infections increasingly complex and costly for healthcare systems. In addition, the ability of S. epidermidis to act as a reservoir and disseminator of resistance genes further amplifies its epidemiological impact. In this context, this article provides an in-depth and critical review of the main mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance and the epidemiological aspects of S. epidermidis, emphasizing how these factors highlight the urgent need for the development of new antibiotics with innovative mechanisms of action and greater efficacy against multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilm-associated infections.