Speciation, Biofilm production and Antibiotic resistance pattern of Coagulase negative Staphylococci isolated from Neonatal septicemia

Abstract

Nowadays Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) has become one of the major pathogen for neonatal septicemia as a result of increased use of intravascular devices and other invasive procedures. This prospective study was conducted to study about species distribution, biofilm production and antibiotic resistance pattern of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci isolated from Neonatal Septicemia. During the ten months study period 68 CoNS were isolated from neonatal septicemia. Speciation of CONS was done by simple, inexpensive biochemical tests and biofilm production was detected by Tube Method and Congo red agar method. On speciation of CoNS Staphylococcus epidermidis (53%) was the common isolate followed by Staphylococcus haemolyticus (41%), Staphylococcus warneri (3%) and Staphylococcus schleiferi (3%) CoNS isolates showed significant resistance to Ampicillin (82%), Clindamycin(76%), Cotrimoxazole (74%) Erythromycin (74%), and Methicillin (76%.). CoNS isolates revealed 100% sensitivity to Vancomycin. CoNS isolates (53%) were biofilm producers by Congo Red Agar method and (47%) were biofilm producers by Tube adherence method. Due to their high antibiotic resistance and increased virulence of CoNS leads to increased morbidity and mortality in neonates. Preventive measures like hand hygiene, aseptic management of intravenous line should be followed to reduce the spread of virulent CoNS.