DETECTION OF BIOFILM PRODUCING POTENTIALS OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF COAGULASE NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AND ITS CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Nagaraja Mudhigeti, *Dr. Abhijit Chaudhury, Kalyani Kurava and Dr. Usha Kalawat
ABSTRACT
Background: In recent years Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) has been recognised as potential pathogen. CoNS are known to produce various virulence factors; slime (biofilm) production is one of such virulence factor associated with several nosocomial infections related to prosthetic devices and indwelling catheter. Slime producing CoNS are known to cause chronic infections, which require a prolonged period of therapy to eliminate the infection. Materials and methods: Total of one hundred clinically significant CoNS were further subjected to speciation by standard phenotypic methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on all isolates by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Slime production was determined by two different methods namely tissue culture plate method (TCP) and tube method. Effect of different physiochemical conditions on biofilm production was determined by both methods. Results: CoNS were identified as S.schleiferi, S.heamolyticus, S.lugdunensis, S.epidermidis and S.saprophyticus. Of these, 44 were female and 56 were male cases. A total of 15 and 20 isolates were detected as biofilm positive phenotypes by tube and TCP assays respectively. Biofilm positivity varied greatly from 60% by S.epidermidis to nil produced by S.saprophyticus.
Keywords: Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, speciation, biofilm formation, antibiotic susceptibility.
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