Rare Diseases & Orphan Drug

Introduction & Aim: Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are now emerging as important pathogen and its resistance to antibiotics are worrisome. Methicillin resistance among CoNS causes an important therapeutic threat associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Th is study was aimed to isolate the coagulase negative Staphylococci from various clinical specimens, evaluate its antibiotic susceptibility pattern and to detect the prevalence of mecA gene among coagulase negative Staphylococci.

 

Method: All the clinical samples were collected with aseptic precautions and processed as per standard protocol. All the coagulase negative Staphylococcal isolates were subjected for antibiotic susceptibility testing as per CLSI guidelines. Screening of methicillin resistance was done using cefoxitin disc (30 μg) as per CLSI recommended disc diff usion method. Genotypic analysis for methicillin resistance (mecA gene) was done.

 

Results: A total of 89 clinically signifi cant non-repetitive coagulase negative Staphylococcal isolates were identifi ed. S. epidermidis was most frequently isolated, among various species of CoNS. 15/89 (16.8%) were methicillin resistant but only 9 CoNS isolates showed mecA genes.

 

Conclusion: Coagulase negative Staphylococci, which were previously dismissed as contaminants are now emerging as important pathogen. Th ere is necessity for continued surveillance to determine the extent of emerging resistance in CoNS to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics and to allow policies to be established for adequate and rational use of antibiotics. Th is study insists the need of continuous monitoring the prevalence of methicillin resistance among CoNS in a given population and to frame the antibiotic policy because it can vary from region to region.