Detection of macrolide and disinfectant resistance genes in clinical Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative

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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Tarek Zmantar1, Bochra Kouidhi, Hanene Miladi

  • 1Laboratoire d'Analyse, Traitement et Valorisation des Polluants de l'Environnement et des Produits, Faculté de Pharmacie, Monastir, Tunisia. zmantar_t@yahoo.fr.

BMC Research Notes
|October 29, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus strains, including Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), exhibit resistance to both antibiotics and disinfectants. This highlights the need for enhanced infection control strategies against these resilient pathogens.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are significant causes of infections linked to indwelling medical devices.
  • Antiseptic agents are commonly used in hand hygiene to prevent Staphylococci-related nosocomial infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the antibiotic susceptibility of Staphylococcus strains.
  • To assess the resistance of Staphylococcus strains to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs).

Main Methods:

  • Investigated 46 S. aureus and 71 CoNS strains.
  • Analyzed erythromycin resistance genes (ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA, mef) using multiplex PCR.
  • Studied disinfectant resistance genes (qacA, qacB, qacC) using PCR-RFLP.

Main Results:

  • High prevalence of erythromycin resistance genes observed in both S. aureus and CoNS.
  • 74% of isolates were resistant to benzalkonium chloride (BC), a QAC-based disinfectant.
  • 56% of BC-resistant isolates carried at least one QAC resistance gene (qacA, qacB, qacC).

Conclusions:

  • Multi-resistant strains to macrolides and disinfectants were identified.
  • Understanding antibiotic and antiseptic resistance in CoNS is crucial for controlling nosocomial infections.

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