Estimation of the of Beta-Lactamase Production in Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Blepharitis Patients

Abstract

In this study, 90 eyelid swabs were obtained from patients with blepharitis of both sexes and various age groups who were admitted to various hospitals, and other primary healthcare centers between September 2023 and February 2024, in Babylon governorate. It was found that blepharitis occurs in all age groups and affects both sexes without any differences between them, but it is clear that blepharitis is more prevalent in the age range of (20 to 49) years old. It was discovered that out of the 90 samples, 75 (83.3%) had positive bacterial cultures, and 15 (16.7%) had no growth at all. Also, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacteria 39 (52%), followed by Haemophilus influenzae 17 (22.7%), Streptococcus pneumoniae 10 (13.3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 7 (9.3%), and only 2 isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes (2.7%). The rapid iodometric method has been employed to investigate the production of beta-lactamase enzyme by the common bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which was isolated from the eyelid's margin of patients with blepharitis. It was found that 36 (92.3%) of the 39 Staphylococcus aureus isolates had the ability to produce β-lactamase. A number of common beta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, amoxicillin, ampiclox cephalexin, and cefazolin have also been used to investigate the ability of Staphylococcus aureus to produce the β-lactamase enzyme. The results showed that all isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were 100% resistant to penicillin, cephalexin and cefazolin. whereas some isolates 30 isolates were resistant to ampiclox (77%), and only 23 isolates were resistant to amoxicillin (59%).