Antimicrobial sensivity and ability to slime production of koagulaze-negative staphylococci

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of slime production ofcoagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) and evaluate the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics. Strains were isolated from clinical specimens obtained from hospitalized patients. The most frequently isolated species were S. epidermidis (51%), S. hominis (18%), S. haemolyticus (13%). The result of this study shows that 61% of S.epidermidis produce slime on CRA (Congo red agar), whereas none of the tested S. haemolyticus strains has this ability. All examined strains were susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid and quinupristin/ dalfopristin. The majority of strains were susceptible to minocycline, fusid acid, nitrofurantoin and rifampicin. Sixty six percent of isolates were determined as methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci.     

Fenotypical characteristic of coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from patients hospitalized on burn ward and surgical ward

The aim of the study was to analysis of the adhesion factors of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) to intravenous catheter: ability to adhesion, slime production, hydrophobicity of surface of cells and susceptibility to antibiotics. The researches heve been done on CNS strains isolated from cardiosurgical patients. Slime production ability was evaluated using plate method according to Christensen and Congo Red Agar method. Adherence of bacterial strains to intravenous catheter (polytetrafluoroethylene) in vitro was determined using the method of Richards. Hydrophobicity of surface of cells was determined on the basis of agregattion in (NH4)2SO4 Susceptibility to antibiotics was determined using the disc-diffusion method. Out of the analyzed strains 19% were labeled as slime producing in the plate method and 14% in the Congo red Agar method. 43% of analyzed strains were found to have TTC reduction of 3+, 19% of 2+ and 28% of 1+. Among these 10% of the assesed strains did not reduce TTC.     

Slime production by Staphylococci isolated from prosthesis-associated infections.

Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis are frequently referred to produce a biofilm, known as slime, involved in adherence to medical devices and in resistance to host defences. A high frequency of slime producing Staphylococcus aureus strains was never reported, at least in the case of human isolates. In the present study the production of slime by clinical isolates of S. aureus and S. epidermidis from catheter associated infections and from post-surgical infections was studied by a sensitive method based on culturing the isolates on Congo red agar. The study demonstrates that in nosocomial surgical infections, considered separately from catheter-associated infections, S. aureus emerges as a more prevalent etiologic agent than S. epidermidis, with a proportion of slime producing strains markedly high.     

Adhesion dependence of coagulase-negative staphylococci to biomaterials and PIA polysaccharide synthesis on icaADBC operon presence

Both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus are important causes of infections associated with catheters and other medical devices. This infections result in significant morbidity, mortality and economic cost. It has recently been shown that not only S. epidermidis but also S. haemolyticus can produce slime and carries the ica operon responsible for and slime production. In the operon, coexpression of icaA and icaD is required for full slime synthesis. This study is focused on detecting icaA and icaD genes in S. haemolyticus and comparison of these two species. It turned out that strain representatives within the same species behave very differently and a single tested strain from each species is unlikely to be representative of the species as a whole. Contrary to S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus strain appeared to carry no icaA-like and icaD-like genes, but was able to form biofilm in vitro.     

Slime production and antibiotic susceptibility in staphylococci isolated from clinical samples

A total of 187 isolates from several clinical specimens were identified to species level as 129 Staphylococcus aureus strains and 58 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) strains by the API Staph System (Biomerieux). Slime production was detected both by the conventional Christensen's method as well as by the Congo red agar method. Seventy-two strains of staphylococci isolates (38.5%) were found to be slime producers by Christensen's test tube method whereas 58 strains (31%) were slime positive with Congo red agar method. There was no statistically significant difference between the two methods for the detection of slime production (P > 0.05). Susceptibility of isolates against antimicrobial agents was tested by the disk diffusion method. Staphylococcal species had resistance to one or more antibiotics. Among the various antimicrobial agents, oxacillin (71.1%) and erythromycin (47.1%) showed higher resistance than most of the agents used against all isolates. Oxacillin resistant S. aureus (ORSA) and oxacillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (ORCNS), 97 (75.2%) and 36 (62.1%) respectively were frequently observed in strains isolated from clinical materials. Among the ORSA strains, two strains were resistant to vancomycin. Moreover, 96 (74.4%) of 129 S. aureus strains were positive for beta-lactamase enzyme. However, 78 (81.25%) of 96 beta-lactamase positive S. aureus strains were beta-lactamase positive ORSA isolates, but none of them had vancomycin resistance.     

Phage pattern and antibiotic resistance pattern of coagulase-negative staphylococci obtained from immunocompromised patients.

A total of 152 coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains were isolated from clinical samples of 14 patients hospitalized after bone-marrow transplantation in a specialized hospital ward in Hungary, during an 18-month period between 1987 and 1989. Two species, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus haemolyticus, predominated (each, 45%). Using Pulverer and co-workers' phage set for typing, 68% of the isolates were typable; 16 phage patterns were observed. A characteristic long pattern with phages Ph10/Ph13/Ph15/U4/U15/U16/U20/U33 /U46 appeared only in S. epidermidis, among 5 of 11 colonized patients (8.5% of all strains). Single lysis with phage Ph13 was observed in 7 of the 14 patients (49% of all strains), in species S. capitis, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, and S. warneri. In S. haemolyticus, non-typable strains predominated (66%); this character occurred only in 2% among other species. The strains colonizing the immunocompromised patients differed from each other in phage pattern, antibiotic resistance pattern, and/or slime production. No hospital infection was suggested. On the other hand, high incidence of two well-definable phage patterns raises some relationship between phage receptors or some regulatory systems in phage multiplication and factors responsible for special colonization as common surface properties.     

Biofilm detection and the clinical significance of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus epidermidis</Emphasis> isolates

The ability of Staphylococcus epidermidis to produce biofilm was compared in 147 clinically significant strains repeatedly isolated from blood cultures of patients with bloodstream infection and in 147 strains isolated from skin. The strains were examined for the presence of ica operone, for the ability to form biofilm by Christensen's test-tube method and for the production of slime by Congo Red agar method. The ica operone was found in 92 (62.6 %) blood isolates and in 44 (29.9) isolates from skin. Christensen's test-tube method was positive in 79 (53.7) and 33 (22.4), Congo Red agar method in 64 (43.5) and 31 (21.1) of blood and skin isolates, respectively. All three methods were more frequently positive in clinically significant isolates from blood than in strains isolated from skin. The detection of ica operone and the Christensen's test-tube method showed better correlation with the clinical significance than the Congo Red agar method.     

Congo red agar plate method: improved accuracy and new extended application to Staphylococcus aureus.

In the last decade an increasing number of research studies have focused on the role of slime formation in Staphylococcus epidermidis and, more recently, also in S. aureus. In this context, much attention is being paid to evaluating the prevalence of slime production among bacteria strains isolated from clinical infections in an attempt to assess the role and the diagnostic value of this well recognised virulence marker. Such types of investigations require reliable techniques to identify slime producing strains. For years, even though based on a subjective chromatic evaluation, the Congo red agar plate (CRA) represented a reference phenotypic test for S. epidermidis. Only with the new introduction of PCR-based techniques, able to specifically identify the genes necessary for slime production, did the accurate genetic classification of slime producing bacteria become possible. In the present investigation, a comparison with new PCR methods confirmed the validity of the classic CRA test, implemented with minor refinements. Thanks to a few modifications it was also possible to adapt and extend the CRA test, making it also suitable to screen S. aureus strains.     

Sensitivity to vancomycin and teicoplanin of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from clinical specimens

The frequency of resistance and elevated resistance to teicoplanin and vancomycin among 689 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated in one year from clinical specimens was determined. Using ATB.STAPH test, a resistance was shown mainly among strains of S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus. The elevated resistance to teicoplanin was much more frequently observed than to vancomycin. About 27% of isolated strains of S. haemolyticus and 6.8% of S. epidermidis were classified as resistant. Among other species only single strains were recognised as resistant: one strain of S. xylosus, one of S. cohni and one of S. intermedius. 94.7% of S. epidermidis and 100% of S. haemolyticus strains classified as resistant to teicoplanin in ATB showed MIC values 14 mg/l. Moreover it was shown that 26.3% of these strains of S. epidermidis and 33.3% of S. haemolyticus had MBC of teicoplanin values equal to or higher than 32 mg/l.     

Detection of the intercellular adhesion loci (ica) in clinicalStaphylococcus aureus strains responsible for hospital acquired auricular infection

In clinicalStaphylococcus aureus strains, the presence of theica genes, biofilm formation and susceptibility to antibiotics are considered important factors of virulence. In this study, 35 strains ofS. aureus, isolated from auricular infection, were investigated for slime production using Congo red agar (CRA) method, antibiotic susceptibility, presence ofmecA gene, and presence oficaA andicaD gene. The results show that 60% of strains weremecA positive when tested by PCR although 25.7% of strains were oxacillin resistant when tested with ATB STAPH. Qualitative slime production ofS. aureus using CRA revealed that 74.3% ofS. aureus were slime producers. All the strains carried theica gene.     

Role of Staphylococcus saprophyticus in urinary infections]

A proportion of S. saprophyticus in other coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates from the urine of patients with urinary infections and healthy individuals has been investigated. Certain diagnostic aspect of the urinary infections with S. saprophyticus have also been considered. Hundred four coagulase-negative staphylococcal strains isolated from patients in S?upsk and Gdańsk area and 72 strains of the coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from the urine of healthy women have been divided into 9 species, according to Kloos and Schleifers' classification. Bacteriologic tests have shown that S. saprophyticus produced 20.4% of the urinary tract infections in S?upsk area holding the second place after S. haemolyticus (27.3%). This species was the most infrequent in the urine of patients in Gdańsk area (3.3%). Its sensitivity to antibiotics did not differ from that of other coagulase-negative staphylococci. In contrast to the majority of other strains, S. saprophyticus has not been isolated from the urinary tract of healthy women and has been encountered most frequently in low bacteriuria. Test of resistance to novobiocin which is considered as a simplified identification method of this species proved to be not very precise as other species have also been resistant to this antibiotic.     

Slime-producing Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus in acute bacterial conjunctivitis in soft contact lens wearers

In recent years, an increase in ocular pathologies related to soft contact lens has been observed. The most common infectious agents were Staphylococcus spp. Some strains produce an extracellular polysaccharidic slime that can cause severe infections. Polysaccharide synthesis is under genetic control and involves a specific intercellular adhesion (ica) locus, in particular, icaA and icaD genes. Conjunctival swabs from 97 patients with presumably bacterial bilateral conjunctivitis, wearers of soft contact lenses were examined. We determined the ability of staphylococci to produce slime, relating it to the presence of icaA and icaD genes. We also investigated the antibiotic susceptibility and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of the clinical isolates. We found that 74.1% of the S. epidermidis strains and 61.1% of the S. aureus strains isolated were slime producers and showed icaA and icaD genes. Both S. epidermidis and S. aureus slime-producing strains exhibited more surface hydrophobicity than non-producing slime strains. The PFGE patterns overlapped in S. epidermidis strains with high hydrophobicity. The similar PFGE patterns were not related to biofilm production. We found scarce matching among the Staphylococcus spp. studied, slime production, surface hydrophobicity and antibiotic susceptibility.     

Comparison of three methods detection of slime production by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis

In this article, slime production of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis strains from infective skin lesions was evaluated by three different methods: Congo red agar method (CRA), Christensen tube method (CT) and spectrophotometric method (SC). All strains by CT method interpreted as negative (dark-claret or red colonies of the surface). 12 (37.5%) strains of S. aureus, 16 (50.0%) strains of S. epidermidis produced slime as shown by CT method, 6 (18.7%) strains of S. aureus, 8 (25,0%) strains of S. epidermidis by SC method. They also found a correlation of slime production by CT and SC method (p > 0.05).     

Epidemiological and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus haemolyticus strains, from a hematology ward, with decreased susceptibility to glycopeptides

In the present study, we report on the reduced susceptibility to teicoplanin among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus haemolyticus in a hematology ward of a teaching hospital. The molecular characterization of 17 S. haemolyticus strains was performed using mec gene complex classification, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis, and minimum inhibitory concentration examination. Pulsotype A strains carrying a class C2 mec gene complex were the most prevalent strains, at 64.7%. In vivo selection of stepwise increase in resistance to vancomycin and teicoplanin was observed in three S. haemolyticus strains serially isolated from a case patient. The results of the present study suggest the regional spread of certain S. haemolyticus clones with diminished susceptibility to glycopeptides, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring of minimum inhibitory concentration levels of vancomycin and teicoplanin in S. haemolyticus strains, and the importance of infection control practices to prevent its transmission.     

重楼中一株产纤维素酶内生真菌的分离及鉴定

从重楼根茎中分离、鉴定具有产纤维素酶活性的内生真菌。采用表面消毒法从重楼块茎中分离内生真菌;用纤维素酶活性CMC平板检测分离菌株的产纤维素酶活性;对高产菌株进行形态学观察和分子生物学测序鉴定;探究影响纤维素酶活力的因素;利用平板法检测该株菌产其他胞外水解酶的活性。从3个来源的重楼中分离出41株内生真菌,通过平板检测发现AS-5、AS-7、AS-9和AS-18菌株能产生纤维素酶,其中AS-9菌株活性最强;通过形态学观察和ITS、LSU序列分析将AS-9菌株鉴定为Setophoma terrestris;该菌在pH值为7.0和温度为28℃时表现出最大纤维素酶活性,紫外线照射对产纤维素酶活性无明显作用;检测发现AS-9菌株同时具有产酪蛋白酶、脂肪酶、天冬酰胺酶、谷氨酰胺酶和脲酶活性。首次在重楼中发现内生真菌Setophoma terrestris,且具有较好的产纤维素酶能力,值得深入研究。     

医院感染葡萄球菌菌种变迁与耐药性近况

目的：了解近9年来医院感染葡萄球菌菌种的变迁与近3年来葡萄球菌药状况。方法：1993年1月至2001年12月我院传染病科等13科室住院病人的各种标本采用血琼脂培养,所分离的葡萄球菌采用美国DADE公司生产的MICROSCAN WALKAY-40全自动微生物分析仪鉴定到种及其亚种。药敏试验药物有青霉素、苯唑西林、氨苄西林、哌拉西林、阿莫西林／克拉维酸（阿莫仙）、头孢唑啉、头孢噻肟、头孢哌酮／舒巴坦（舒普深）、庆大霉素、复方新诺明、环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、利福平、万古霉素、红霉素、林可霉素、四环素、伊米配能／西司他丁（泰能）共18种。采用液体稀释法测定每株葡萄球菌对受试药物的最小抑菌浓度（MIC）,操作按说明书进行。质控菌ATCC25923。依据新近NCCLS标准判读结果。结果：1993年至1998年分离的葡萄球菌中,金黄色葡萄球菌（金葡萄）占71.43%,凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌（CNS）占28.57%,包括表皮葡萄球菌（表葡菌）、腐生葡萄球菌、里昂葡萄球菌和头状葡萄球菌4种。1999年至2001年分离的424株葡萄球菌中,金葡菌仅占29.01%,CNS增至13种,占70.995,以表葡菌、溶血葡萄球菌、松鼠葡萄球菌为主。近3年来分离的各种葡萄球菌甲氧西林耐药率在73.03%-100%之间,除对舒普深、复方新诺明、利福平和万古霉素较敏感外,对其余抗菌药物的耐药率均超过60％,以金葡菌、溶血葡萄球菌、松鼠葡萄球菌的耐药率为最高。MRS耐药率普遍高于MSS,且均呈多重耐药。5.42%(23/424)菌株万古霉素MIC＞16mg/L,除1株为MSCNS外,其余22株均为MRS。结论：3年来医院感染葡萄球菌菌种构成比发生了显著变化,以CNS为主。对抗菌药物呈多重耐药,部分菌株对万古霉素敏感性降低,应予警惕。     

Staphylococcus cohnii--resident of hospital environment: cell-surface features and resistance to antibiotics

Staphylococcus cohnii strains dominated in the environment of investigated hospitals. We isolated 420 strains of the species mainly from hospitals environments, but also from infants--Intensive Care Units patients, its medical staff and non-hospital environments. S. cohnii subspecies cohnii was seen to dominate (361 strains). Seventy seven percent of these strains expressed cell-surface hydrofobicity, most of them were slime producers (61%) and this feature was correlated with their methicillin resistance. Among S. cohnii ssp. cohnii strains isolated from ICU environment 90% were resistant to methicillin, 43% expressed high-level resistance to mupirocin and high percentages were resistant to many other antibiotics. These strains may constitute a dangerous reservoir of resistance genes in a hospital.     

大肠埃希菌耐药性及其基因同源性分析

目的 研究临床分离的大肠埃希菌对常用抗生索的耐药性及其基因分型,了解其耐药性趋势与传播流行情况,为临床合理治疗大肠埃希菌引起的感染提供参考依据。方法 采用常规鉴定技术鉴定细菌;采用K—B纸片扩散法测定77株大肠埃希菌对19种药物的耐药性;K—B法鉴定产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（ESBLs）;通过脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）法对其进行基因分型以确定菌株之间的亲缘关系;FINGERPRINT Ⅱ软件进行细菌基因指纹图谱分析。结果 大肠埃希菌对青霉素类、喹诺酮类药物和氨曲南的耐药性明显增高,亚胺培南和美罗培南是大肠埃希菌感染患者的首选药物;经ESBLs确证试验,ESBLs阳性率为28．60％（22／77）;产ESBLs大肠埃希菌经PFGE指纹图谱分析,除第62株和第70株相似性系数为78．27％外,其余相似度均低于70．0％;ESBLs大肠埃希菌阴性株中除少数几对菌株相似性系数较高外,其余呈散在分布,且电泳带存有6条以上的不同条带,为流行病学无关的不同克隆。结论 大肠埃希菌对常用抗生索耐药性明显增高,且呈多重耐药趋势;该研究尚不能证明存在大肠埃希菌爆发性流行感染,提示可能存在院内感染大肠埃希菌的优势克隆;PFGE基因分型方法是耐药性与流行状况分析的有效手段。     

Typing of methicillin resistant strains of S. haemolyticus isolated from patients and from the hospital ward environment

Biotyping, antibiograms and fingerprinting were used to determine the relation of 16 methicillin-resistant S. haemolyticus isolated from drains in patients who underwent intraabdominal surgery to 9 methicillin-resistant strains of S. haemolyticus isolated at the same time from hospital environment. The comparison of biochemical properties of the examined strains showed a large variety of biochemical profiles as well as antibiotic patterns of susceptibility. The differences in sensitivity to the antibiotics used were not distinct. Biotyping and antibiograms did not permit determination of the relation of the investigated strains. Only the results of fingerprinting allowed for the division of the 25 examined strains into three genotypes demonstrating three main patterns of PCR products. 16 strains of 25 showed the same pattern of PCR products. This results suggests the presence of a source of infection on the clinical ward. A nurse may have been the source of infection because the same genotype of S. haemolyticus was isolated from her nasal anterior as from the majority of patients.     

674例新生儿败血症病原学及耐药性分析

目的:了解新生儿败血症病原学特点和致病菌耐药酶的产生与抗生素应用的相关性,为临床及时明确病原、正确选用抗生素提供依据。方法:对12年间新生儿科5 350例发热新生儿患儿无菌采集血液进行细菌培养,同时进行药敏分析和耐药酶检测,并了解采集标本前抗生素的应用情况。结果:5 350份血液标本中检出需氧菌674株,阳性率12.6%,其中革兰阴性杆菌155株,占23.0%,革兰阳性球菌504株,占74.8%。排在前八位的菌种是表皮葡萄球菌、溶血葡萄球菌、嗜麦芽假单胞菌、人葡萄球菌、肺炎克雷伯菌、大肠埃希菌、不动杆菌、粪肠球菌。革兰阳性球菌对青霉素,哌拉西林,苯唑西林耐药性高,对万古霉素100%敏感;革兰阴性杆菌对氨苄西林、哌拉西林,头孢呋辛耐药性高,对亚胺培南、头孢三代较敏感;感染产耐药酶菌患儿在检测前使用抗生素比率高于感染但未产耐药酶菌的患儿比率(X2=6.55,P<0.05),尤其第三代头孢菌素的应用,差异更显著(X2=12.17,P<0.005)。结论:新生儿败血症病原菌以表皮葡萄球菌和非发酵菌为主,但溶血葡萄球菌有上升趋势。加强各类标本的细菌学检测,预防败血症,减少耐药菌株的产生。