PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF MDR ISOLATES OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS FROM BLOOD AND PUS IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, INDIA

Abstract

Drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus with variable epidemiology has become a serious public health problem worldwide. To study the phenotype prevalent in this region (Himachal Pradesh) and to choose the appropriate antibiotic therapy regimen both phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the given isolates were performed in the present work. A total 25 isolates (20 of pus and 5 of blood) were obtained from IGMC Shimla and their antibiotic resistance profiling was done. 100% resistance was obtained in case of tetracycline and 48% for oxacillin. Vancomycin, netilmycin, teicoplanin and linezolid, showed 100% sensitivity where as in case of clindamycin 88% sensitivity was seen as three of the isolates were found to be intermediate. Genotypic characterization of both MSSA and MRSA strains (5 each) was done for the presence of tet 38 gene by PCR. The results of PCR revealed all the 10 isolates carrying tet 38 gene with amplicon size of 1353 base pair irrespective of whether the isolates were MSSA or MRSA.