What are the mechanisms by which CoNS may adhere to foreign materials?
The mechanisms by which CoNS may adhere to foreign materials include the initial nonspecific attachment by means of physicochemical forces, the specific interaction of bacterial surface adhesins with the uncoated device directly and with host proteins that coat the device, and the direct adhesion to plastic polymers on the surface of the device via fimbria-like surface protein structures or via a capsular polysaccharide (polysaccharide/adhesin). Additionally, CoNS may adhere to host matrix proteins such as fibrinogen, fibronectin, and collagen that are deposited on newly implanted biomaterials.