Biofilm production and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Staphylococcus strains isolates from urinary catheter at the university hospital center of Tlemcen (Algeria)

Abstract

Staphylococci are a major cause of infections associated with urinary catheterization and other medical devices. The ability of Biofilm production is an important step in the pathogenesis of these Staphylococci and depends on the expression of the icaADBC operon leading to the synthesis of a polysaccharide intercellular adhesion. In this study , 44 staphylococci isolates obtained from urinary catheter at the university hospital center (UHC) of Tlemcen (North-West Algeria) were analyzed for detecting the presence or absence of the intercellular adhesion icaA and icaD genes by polymerase chain reaction, phenotypic biofilm production was examined by tissue culture plate (TCP) and Congo red agar (CRA) methods. 17of 44 isolates were shown to carry ica -specific DNA, 18 produced slime on CRA plates but only 8 produced biofilm spontaneously on the polystyrene surfaces. Staphylococci strains isolated from urinary catheter showed high levels of resistance to penicillin (98%) and gentamicine (75%). The data reported indicate an important role of ica genes, phenotypic variability of biofilm