Abstract
Background: Staphylococci causes chronic skin infections, device associated infections, ear infections, bone infections and post-operative infections. It secretes toxins such as Pantone-Valentine Leukocidin which prolongs the infection in hospitalized patients. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Staphylococcal biofilm associated strains and to understand the correlation between biofilm production, multi-drug resistance and leukotoxicity. Methods: 280 Staphylococcal clinical isolates obtained from biofilm associated infections are collected from a tertiary care hospital in Mysore. They were screened for the production of biofilm, multi-drug resistance and leukotoxicity. They were also screened for icaAB and PVL luk F/S genes by PCR. Correlation between leuktoxicity and biofilm production was established by finding the leukotoxic potential of biofilm positive strains. Findings: Among 280 Staphylococcal clinical isolates, 34.6% showed biofilm production. Out of these isolates, 25% showed the presence of icaAB genes and 29% showed the presence of PVL luk F/S genes. Presence of icaAB gene was found to be higher in isolates obtained from implant associated infections. But the prevalence of PVL luk F/S genes was higher in chronic skin infections. 78% of the isolates displayed multi-drug resistance and methicillin resistant strains were comparitively high in device associated infections (77%). Strong biofilm producing PVL positive isolates from chronic skin infections showed increased leucotoxicity compared to PVL negative, weak and moderate biofilm producers. Conclusion: Statistical analysis revealed that PVL in association with biofilms can promote higher leukotoxicity compared to non biofilm producers. This study foresee the essential role of biofilm production, multi-drug resistance and toxins for the increased Staphylococcal pathogenesis.
Highlights
Staphylococci are common bacterial colonizers of the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other mammals
Production of biofilm in Staphylococcus is primarily mediated by the intercellular adhesin operon consisting of four genes icaA, icaD, icaB and icaC [11]. ica operon is Tropical Journal of Pathology & Microbiology
Isolation and confirmation of Staphylococci- 35 Staphylococcal strains from each infected site or medical implant were collected from a tertiary care hospital in Mysore to get a total of 280 samples
Summary
Staphylococci are common bacterial colonizers of the skin and mucous membranes of humans and other mammals. Staphylococcal biofilms on indwelling devices are difficult to eradicate as they exhibit higher drug resistance compared to its planktonic counterparts [9,10]. Staphylococci causes chronic skin infections, device associated infections, ear infections, bone infections and post-operative infections It secretes toxins such as Pantone-Valentine Leukocidin which prolongs the infection in hospitalized patients. Aim: To investigate the prevalence of Staphylococcal biofilm associated strains and to understand the correlation between biofilm production, multi-drug resistance and leukotoxicity. Methods: 280 Staphylococcal clinical isolates obtained from biofilm associated infections are collected from a tertiary care hospital in Mysore. They were screened for the production of biofilm, multi-drug resistance and leukotoxicity. This study foresee the essential role of biofilm production, multi-drug resistance and toxins for the increased Staphylococcal pathogenesis
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