Staphylococcus aureus und coagulase-negative staphylococci of species commonly isolated from biomaterial-associated infections commonly express fibronectin-binding surface proteins and the ability to interact with collagen. These findings, us well us the ability of coagulase-negative staphylococci to produce surface slime or capsular material. are presented as alternative models for how biofilms develop on biomaterial surfaces. Further knowledge of how bacteria und eukaryotic cells interact with various biomaterials materials bill stimulate the development of better implant devices to avoid biomaterial-associated infections