Abstract

CLINICAL DISTRIBUTION OF BIOFILM FORMING STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS AND ITS SENSITIVITY AGAINST SOME ANTIBIOTICS

Poonam Verma* and Sunita Singh

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most versatile nosocomial (i.e. acquired in hospital) and dangerous human pathogen. In spite of the introduction of antimicrobial agents and improvements in the frequency and morbidity of staphylococcal diseases in the twentieth century, staphylococci have persisted as an important hospital and community pathogen. Thereafter, methicillin-resistant S. aureus emerged as a major pathogen worldwide. A total of 38 positive clinical isolates from various clinical samples received from different hospitals of Dehradun included from March 2014 to August 2014. 38 samples had bacterial growth, among these isolates 17(44.7%) were Staphylococcus aureus. The present study was designed to investigate antibiotic susceptibility pattern and the role of biofilm in isolates of various clinical samples (Urine, Blood, Semen and Pus), by examining the ability of isolates to form biofilm and produce signaling molecules and by developing a wound model, to relate laboratory findings with in vivo activity by exploring the possibility of detecting biofilm markers in dressings removed from chronic infections. The presence of biofilm was confirmed by specialized microscopy techniques or by detecting biofilm markers. Various antibiotics had a greater effect on viability when used at higher antibiotic concentrations (≥100 mg/L) and on younger (6h) biofilms. The antibiotics used for antibiotic susceptibility testing were Ofloxacin, Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, and Ciprofloxacin.

Keywords: Biofilm, Nosocomial infection, Antibiotics, Signaling molecules.