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Published on: September 8, 2021
[Production lead time of coagulase in 180 Staphylococcus aureus strains collected at Abidjan]
N Y Zinzendorf1, L Baba-Moussa, V Edoh
1UFR de Pharmacie, Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Université d'Abidjan-Cocody, Abidjan. nangatchocht@yahoo.fr
Introduction:
The pathogenic capacity of S. aureus is related.to the production of many virulence factors of which the coagulase. Several genotypes of coagulase were described and are associated to various populations of S. aureus. According the susceptibility to methicillin, methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus, are described. The aim of this subject was to study the coagulase expression of Staphylococcus aureus according to the site of infection, patient origin and the resistance against methicillin.
Material And Methods:
The study is related about 180 strains of S. aureus collected in the three University Teaching Hospital of Abidjan. S. aureus are identified with laboratory classical methods. Coagulase delay was determined by the test of the coagulase on citrated rabbit plasma at 2, 4 and 18 hours. The resistance against methicillin was researched by disc diffusion agar technique.
Results:
In 60% of cases, the bacterial strains gave a coagulum at the end of four hours, fast coagulase, against 40% of strains whose coagulating activity appeared at 18 h, slow coagulase. Fast coagulase strains are isolated from the majority of infections (55% to 71%), in hospital patients (66%) and in paediatrics (58%). Fast coagulase strains are methicillin-resistant in 65% of cases against 48.5% of methicillin-susceptible and low coagulase strains (p < 0.0001).
Conclusion:
According to the production lead time of the coagulase, fast coagulase and slow coagulase variants of S. aureus coexisted. The expression of the coagulase is not related to the site of infection and the origin of the patients. On the other hand, the type of coagulase is associated to resistance of methicillin. However, the time of formation of the coagulum typed by the test of the coagulase, didn't constitute a sufficient discriminating factor in the medical following and the treatment of infections caused by S. aureus.
Insights
Fast coagulase production in Staphylococcus aureus is linked to methicillin resistance, but not infection site or patient origin. This finding impacts understanding of S. aureus virulence and antibiotic resistance patterns.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Context:
- Staphylococcus aureus produces virulence factors like coagulase, influencing its pathogenicity.
- Coagulase genotypes vary among S. aureus populations.
- Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) poses a significant public health threat.
Purpose:
- To investigate Staphylococcus aureus coagulase expression in relation to infection site, patient origin, and methicillin resistance.
- To analyze the correlation between coagulase production speed and MRSA prevalence.
Summary:
- 180 S. aureus strains were analyzed for coagulase production time and methicillin susceptibility.
- Fast coagulase strains (coagulum within 4 hours) were more prevalent (60%) and significantly associated with methicillin resistance (65% vs. 48.5%, p < 0.0001).
- Coagulase expression was not significantly correlated with infection site or patient origin.
Impact:
- Coagulase type is associated with methicillin resistance in S. aureus.
- The time of coagulase formation is not a sufficient factor for clinical management of S. aureus infections.
- Findings contribute to understanding S. aureus epidemiology and guiding treatment strategies.
