Association of Intercellular Adhesion Gene A (ica A) with Biofilm Formation in Staphylococci Isolated from Patients with Conjunctivitis

Abstract

Conjunctival infections cause a worldwide problem and affects people of different ages. Proper treatment can reduce symptoms, recovery time, contagious spread, possible re-infection and risk of complications but prolonged use of antibiotics can cause resistance strains. Infections with MDROs can lead to inadequate or delayed antimicrobial therapy. Staphylococcus spp. is a clinically relevant pathogen due to its antimicrobial resistance and evasion of the host immune system. Its virulence factors in avoiding host responses and influencing disease make them able to form biofilm. Emergence of resistants staphylococci from the conjunctiva is of great concern because its virulence is related to the clinical outcome of ocular infections like keratitis or endophthalmitis. Biofilm forming multidrug resistant Staphylococcus spp. are major reservoirs for transmission of ophthalmic infections. Various extracellular substances enable bacteria to form biofilm. Production of these components is dependent on the presence of biofilm-essential genes such as the ica operon. The aim of this study was to determine association of ica A with biofilm formation in staphylococci isolated from patients with conjunctivitis, determine association of ica A gene with antibiotic resistance profile in Staphylococci causing conjunctivitis. fifty subjects suffering from staphylococcal bacterial conjunctivitis were included in this study. Specimen collection was done followed by identification for bacteria