a substantially pure capsular exopolysaccharide adhesin of coagulase - negative staphyhlococcal strains , and a general method to prepare such adhesins , are described . vaccines composed of such adhesins , and uses of such adhesins to produce polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against such adhesins , are also disclosed . the adhesins are useful in coating polymeric medical materials to prevent colonization by coagulase - negative staphylococcal strains , and as a probe in selecting desirable polymeric medical materials . such adhesin antibodies are useful in vivo to prevent infection by nosocomial coagulase - negative staphylococcal strains , in assays for the detection of such bacteria , in assays for the estimation of such adhesins in complex mixtures , and as an affinity chromatography matrix .