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Phage pattern and antibiotic resistance pattern of coagulase-negative staphylococci obtained from immunocompromised
I Barcs1, A Herendi, A Lipcsey
1Bacteriophage Department, B. Johan National Institute for Public Health, Budapest, Hungary.
Abstract:
A total of 152 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains were isolated from clinical samples of 14 patients hospitalized after bone-marrow transplantation in a specialized hospital ward in Hungary, during an 18-month period between 1987 and 1989. Two species, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, predominated (each, 45%). Using Pulverer and co-workers' phage set for typing, 68% of the isolates were typable; 16 phage patterns were observed. A characteristic long pattern with phages Ph10/Ph13/Ph15/U4/U15/U16/U20/U33 /U46 appeared only in S. epidermidis, among 5 of 11 colonized patients (8.5% of all strains). Single lysis with phage Ph13 was observed in 7 of the 14 patients (49% of all strains), in species S. capitis, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, and S. warneri. In S. haemolyticus, non-typable strains predominated (66%); this character occurred only in 2% among other species. The strains colonizing the immunocompromised patients differed from each other in phage pattern, antibiotic resistance pattern, and/or slime production. No hospital infection was suggested. On the other hand, high incidence of two well-definable phage patterns raises some relationship between phage receptors or some regulatory systems in phage multiplication and factors responsible for special colonization as common surface properties.
Insights
Coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains were isolated from bone-marrow transplant patients. Phage typing revealed distinct patterns, suggesting links between phage receptors and colonization factors in immunocompromised individuals.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are significant opportunistic pathogens, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
- Bone-marrow transplant recipients are highly susceptible to infections due to their weakened immune systems.
- Understanding the epidemiology and characteristics of CoNS colonization is crucial for managing infections in these vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains isolated from bone-marrow transplant patients.
- To investigate the phage typing patterns and antibiotic resistance of these strains.
- To explore potential relationships between phage susceptibility and colonization factors.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of 152 CoNS strains from clinical samples of 14 bone-marrow transplant patients over 18 months.
- Phage typing using a defined set of phages to determine susceptibility and identify patterns.
- Analysis of antibiotic resistance patterns and slime production.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus were the predominant species (45% each).
- 68% of isolates were typable, revealing 16 distinct phage patterns.
- A specific phage pattern (Ph10/Ph13/Ph15/U4/U15/U16/U20/U33/U46) was uniquely observed in S. epidermidis among colonized patients.
- Single lysis with phage Ph13 occurred in 49% of patients across multiple species.
- Non-typable strains were more prevalent in S. haemolyticus (66%) compared to other species (2%).
- Colonizing strains exhibited diversity in phage patterns, antibiotic resistance, and slime production.
Conclusions:
- Phage typing can differentiate CoNS strains and may reveal epidemiological links.
- The presence of specific phage patterns in S. epidermidis suggests a potential role in colonization.
- The high incidence of certain phage patterns indicates a possible relationship between phage receptors and factors promoting colonization.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between phage susceptibility, surface properties, and CoNS colonization in immunocompromised hosts.