Prevalence, Antibiotic Resistance Pattern, Screening of psm A and psm B Gene Expression, and in Vitro Analysis of Biofilm Formation of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Clinical Samples

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
ِ. Azadi 1
P. Khandan Del 2
M. Shafiee 3
A. A. Ayatollahi 4
A. Ahani Azari 2
A. Khandan Del 5
M. Safarabadi 1
1 Molecular and medicine research center, Khomein University of Medical Sciences, Khomein, Iran
2 Department of Microbiology, Gorgan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gorgan, Iran
3 Stem cell Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
4 Medical Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
5 Infectious Diseases Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
10.52547/iem.8.3.185
Abstract
Backgrounds: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major causes of nosocomial infections. Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor of S. aureus, leading to its high resistance to antibiotics and evasion from host defenses. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of biofilm-producing S. aureus strains and characterize genes involved in biofilm formation.

Materials & Methods: A total of 79 S. aureus strains were isolated from 1000 clinical samples and characterized using phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular tests. The biofilm production ability of isolates was examined using the microtiter assay. Moreover, the expression of genes involved in biofilm production (psm A and psm B) was screened using real-time PCR. Finally, antibiotic susceptibility testing was done using the Kirby-Bauer method and interpreted according to the CLSI M100 standard.

Findings: Out of 79 S. aureus isolates, 43 (54.4%) isolates were strong biofilm producers, 21 (26.6%) isolates were weak biofilm producers, and 15 (19%) isolates were non-adhesive. The results of real-time PCR showed that 55 (86%), 60 (93.7%), and 46 (58.2%) isolates were positive for psm A, psm B, and both genes, respectively. The results of antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that all the isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of biofilm-forming S. aureus strains in hospital environments could be a major health challenge with serious outcomes for hospitalized patients. Thus, it is necessary to disinfect hospital environments to reduce the risk of infection and spread of these microorganisms.

Keywords

Subjects

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Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology
Volume 8, Issue 3
September 2022
Pages 185-192