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Published on: January 3, 2020
SOME PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NEOMYCIN AND KANAMYCIN-RESISTANT STRAINS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS
Abstract:
Five hundred and fifty-two strains of Staphylococcus aureus of hospital origin were resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Of these, 298 were also resistant to neomycin and kanamycin, and this resistance was related to pigment production on glycerol monoacetate agar, the production of beta-lysin, the absence of fibrinolytic and proteolytic activity, and to phage susceptibility. The use of physiological markers, the inadequacy of phage typing, and the possible reasons for the emergence of neomycin-resistant staphylococci are discussed.
Insights
Hospital-origin Staphylococcus aureus strains showed resistance to common antibiotics. A subset also exhibited neomycin and kanamycin resistance, linked to specific physiological markers and phage susceptibility.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hospital-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections pose significant treatment challenges due to antibiotic resistance.
- Penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline resistance are common in clinical isolates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains exhibiting resistance to multiple antibiotics, including neomycin and kanamycin.
- To explore the relationship between antibiotic resistance patterns and physiological markers in these strains.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic characterization of 552 hospital-origin Staphylococcus aureus strains.
- Assessment of resistance to penicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline, neomycin, and kanamycin.
- Evaluation of pigment production, beta-lysin, fibrinolytic, and proteolytic activity.
- Phage susceptibility testing.
Main Results:
- All 552 strains were resistant to penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline.
- 298 strains displayed additional resistance to neomycin and kanamycin.
- Neomycin/kanamycin resistance correlated with pigment production, beta-lysin presence, absence of fibrinolytic/proteolytic activity, and specific phage susceptibility patterns.
Conclusions:
- Physiological markers can be associated with multidrug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.
- Phage typing may have limitations in characterizing certain resistant strains.
- Understanding these markers is crucial for managing the emergence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci.
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