Presence of environmental coagulase-positive staphylococci, their clonal relationship, resistance factors and ability to form biofilm

Abstract

Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) are opportunistic pathogens carrying various mechanisms of resistance that have a large number of virulence factors, and whose ability to induce illness is associated with the host. This study aimed to investigate the presence of environmental coagulase-positive staphylococci, their susceptibility profile, clonal relationship and ability to form biofilm. The 16S rRNA genes from CoPS isolates were analyzed, and their antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated using the agar dilution method in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The clonal profile was obtained by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and biofilm formation was measured by a crystal violet retention assay. A total of 72 Staphylococcus spp. strains were isolated from air, metal surfaces, and nostrils from humans, dogs, cats, and birds. Three species were identified: Staphylococcus aureus (17%), Staphylococcus intermedius (63%), and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (21%). Ninety three percent (93%) of the strains were resistant to at least one of 13 tested antibiotics. S. pseudintermedius strains were the only resistant ones to methicillin while most of these isolates were multidrug-resistant, had significantly higher ability to form biofilm and PFGE grouped into seven different patterns, without showing clonal dispersion among animals and environmental isolates. This study suggests that dogs, cat, and air are environmental sources potentially carrying multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius, which survives in different environments through biofilm formation and multidrug resistance, characteristics that can be transmitted horizontally to other bacteria and exacerbate the problem of antibiotic resistance in humans.

Outcomes Associated With Infection of Chronic Pain Spinal Implantable Electronic Devices: Insights From a Nationwide Inpatient Sample Study

“…Skin flora, especially Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, are the most common pathogens associated with infection, although rarely other microbes can be the cause of infection (11,12). Bacteria such as staphylococci have cell-surface adhesion molecules that can adhere to various types of metallic and nonmetallic surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation (13). Most CPSIED infections occur within three months of the surgical procedure (14).…”

Ready-to-eat foods: A potential vehicle for spread of coagulase-positive staphylococci and antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Buea municipality, South West Cameroon

“…Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) are opportunistic pathogens that can exist as commensals in humans, companion and food-producing animals but can cause severe or even lethal diseases [16]. They are facultative anaerobic Gram-positive, non-spore forming spherical-shaped bacteria.…”

“…schweitzeri [16,17). Although several of these Staphylococcus species can produce staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs), the majority of staphylococcal food poisoning is attributed to SE produced by S.…”

Virulence factors in coagulase-positive staphylococci of veterinary interest other than Staphylococcus aureus

“…Biofilm formation has been described as significantly higher in S. pseudintermedius than in S. intermedius isolates (Futagawa-Saito et al 2006;Vel azquez-Guadarrama et al 2017). Few studies on genes and mechanisms involved in biofilm production have been found.…”