Antibiotics Resistance and Adhesive Properties of Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Wound Infections

Khulood Fahad Alabbosh; Tarek Zmantar; Abdulrahman S Bazaid; Mejdi Snoussi; Emira Noumi

doi:10.3390/microorganisms11051353

Antibiotics Resistance and Adhesive Properties of Clinical Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Wound Infections

Microorganisms. 2023 May 22;11(5):1353. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11051353.

Authors

Khulood Fahad Alabbosh¹, Tarek Zmantar², Abdulrahman S Bazaid³, Mejdi Snoussi^{1

4}, Emira Noumi^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Hail, Hail 2440, Saudi Arabia.
² Laboratory of Analysis, Treatment, Valorization of Environmental, and Product Pollutants, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.
³ Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hail, Hail 55476, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Laboratory of Genetics, Biodiversity and Valorization of Bio-Resources (LR11ES41), Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Avenue Tahar Haddad, BP74, Monastir 5000, Tunisia.

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a ubiquitous pathogen responsible for several severe infections. This study aimed to investigate the adhesive properties and antibiotic resistance among clinical S. aureus isolated from Hail Hospital Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), using molecular approaches. This study was conducted according to the ethical committee at Hail's guidelines on twenty-four S. aureus isolates. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to identify genes encoding the β-lactamase resistance (blaZ), methicillin resistance (mecA), fluoroquinolone resistance (norA), nitric oxide reductase (norB), fibronectin (fnbA and fnbB), clumping factor (clfA) and intracellular adhesion factors (icaA and icaD). This qualitative study tested adhesion based on exopolysaccharide production on Congo red agar (CRA) medium and biofilm formation on polystyrene by S. aureus strains. Among 24 isolates, the cna and blaz were the most prevalent (70.8%), followed by norB (54.1%), clfA (50.0%), norA (41.6%), mecA and fnbB (37.5%) and fnbA (33.3%). The presence of icaA/icaD genes was demonstrated in almost all tested strains in comparison to the reference strain, S. aureus ATCC 43300. The phenotypic study of adhesion showed that all tested strains had moderate biofilm-forming capacity on polystyrene and represented different morphotypes on a CRA medium. Five strains among the twenty-four harbored the four genes of resistance to antibiotics (mecA, norA, norB and blaz). Considering the genes of adhesion (cna, clfA, fnbA and fnbB), these genes were present in 25% of the tested isolates. Regarding the adhesive properties, the clinical isolates of S. aureus formed biofilm on polystyrene, and only one strain (S17) produced exopolysaccharides on Congo red agar. All these results contribute to an understanding that the pathogenesis of clinical S. aureus isolates is due to their antibiotic resistance and adhesion to medical material.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; adhesion genes; antibiotic resistance; biofilm; molecular approach.

Grants and funding

BA-2209/Scientific Research Deanship at University of Ha'il KSA