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. 2023 Aug 15;23(1):222.
doi: 10.1186/s12866-023-02959-x.

The frequency of adherence, biofilm-associated, Arginine Catabolic Mobile element genes, and biofilm formation in clinical and healthcare worker coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates

Davood Kalantar-Neyestanaki  1   2 , Shahla Mansouri  1   2 , Omid Tadjrobehkar  1   2 , Elham Isaei  3
Affiliations

The frequency of adherence, biofilm-associated, Arginine Catabolic Mobile element genes, and biofilm formation in clinical and healthcare worker coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates

Davood Kalantar-Neyestanaki et al. BMC Microbiol. .

Abstract

Background: Healthcare workers may pave the way for increased infections in hospitalized patients by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). Biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance are the major problems posed by CoNS in nosocomial infections. In this study, we determined biofilm production level and the distribution of biofilm-associated and virulence genes, including icaADBC, aap, bhp, atlE, embp, and fbe, as well as IS256, IS257, mecA, and ACME clusters (arc-A, opp-3AB) among 114 clinical (n = 57) and healthcare workers (n = 57) CoNS isolates in Kerman, Iran.

Results: In this study, more than 80% (n = 96) of isolates were methicillin-resistant CoNS (MR-CoNS). Out of 114 isolates, 33% (n = 38) were strong biofilm producers. Strong biofilm formation was found to be significantly different between clinical and healthcare workers' isolates (P < 0.050). In addition, 28% (n = 32) of isolates were positive for icaADBC simultaneously, and all were strong biofilm producers. The prevalence of icaADBC, mecA, bhp, fbe, and IS256 in clinical isolates was higher than that in healthcare workers' isolates (P < 0.050). A significant relationship was observed between clinical isolates and the presence of icaADBC, mecA, bhp, and IS256. Although these elements were detected in healthcare workers' isolates, they were more frequent in clinical isolates compared to those of healthcare workers.

Conclusions: The high prevalence of ACME clusters in healthcare workers' isolates and biofilm formation of these isolates partially confirms the bacterial colonization in the skin of healthcare workers. Isolating MR-CoNS from healthcare workers' skin through similar genetic elements to clinical isolates, such as icaADBC, mecA, and IS256, calls for appropriate strategies to control and prevent hospital infections.

Keywords: Biofilm; Coagulase-negative Staphylococci; Healthcare workers; Virulence and biofilm-associated genes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PCR electrophoresis: A: aap (400 bp), B: atlE (682 bp), C: bhp (1917 bp), D: embp (455 bp), E: fbe (496 bp) and F: IS257 (621 bp) F: M: 100 bp DNA marker, P: Positive control, N: Negative control
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PCR electrophoresis: opp3AB (1183 bp) and arcA (1946 bp), M: 100 bp DNA marker. І:ACME- І, II: ACME- II and III: ACME- III. N: Negative control
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The prevalence of embp, aap, and atlE in ACME positive and ACME negative isolates. (**: P-Value < 0.010)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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