A plasmid dna mediated vancomycin resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> from cases of boil infections

Abstract

Background: Boil, a pyodermal infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus is a very common skin disease. It is characterized by pus filled lump at specific anatomical locales.
Objectives: This study evaluated the antimicrobial potential of vancomycin in varied concentration alongside with 30μg vancomycin discs on isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from boil infection.
Methods: One hundred clinical exudates from boils were collected with a sterile swab for bacteriological examination, of which 60 isolates of Staph aureus were confirmed by Gram staining and conventional biochemical characterization. Antibiogram, Minimum inhibitory concentration of the vancomycin and plasmid profiles of selected isolates were determined.
Results: Antimicrobial susceptibility test of vancomycin at concentration ranged from 32 μg/ml to 1.0 μg/ml elicited remarkable zones of growth inhibition. In the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration of vancomycin, 15 isolates with typed strain elicited complete resistance to vancomycin concentrations. Plasmid DNA profiles of selected resistant isolates exhibited varied molecular weight that ranged from 0.79kb to 23.13kb.
Conclusion: The resistance of the isolates investigated to vancomycin could be plasmid borne. Therefore, there is a need for public enlightenment on therapeutic management of boil infection.