FIG 3.

Biofilm formation and TSST-1 production by S. aureus differ between cups. S. aureus was incubated in BHI broth in sterile bags in the presence of be'Cup size 2 (silicone) and Me Luna size S (TPE) menstrual cups for 8 h at 37°C without shaking, before the separation of biofilm and planktonic S. aureus cells. Cell numbers and levels of TSST-1 production in both biofilm and planktonic compartments were quantified, and the total number of bacteria represents the sum of results from biofilm and planktonic compartments. Results shown are means of data from 3 experiments ± standard deviations. Student's t tests were used to compare bacterial CFU in the presence of TPE cups to those in the presence of silicone cups and to compare TSST-1 concentrations in the presence of cups to the values for the control (*, P < 0.05).