Phenotypic characterization and Molecular detection of Inducible and Constitutive Clindamycin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus isolates in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is Gram positive cocci. The pyogenic bacteria which is responsible for a variety of diseases that ranges in severity from mild skin and soft tissue infections to life-threatening conditions such as endocarditis, pneumonia, and sepsis. There is a scenario of increasing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB) group of antibiotics they have different structure with same mechanism of action which serves as one good alternative. There is a frequency of increasing Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections and their change in antimicrobial resistance pattern. There is a concern about use of this antibiotic in the presence of Erythromycin resistance because of the possibility of inducible resistance among the members of Macrolide, lincosamide, Strepto-gramin B (MLSB) group. The invitro resistance exhibited by Staphylococcus aureus to erythromycin, Clindamycin, and other drugs of MLSB groups is due to the expression of ribosomal methylases(erm) genes. The detection of inducible Clindamycin resistance can limit the effectiveness of these drugs. Objective of the study: To isolate of Staphylococcus aureus from various clinical samples to differentiate between Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) by conventional methods. To detect inducible and constitutive Clindamycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus isolates by D test. To detect ermA gene responsible for resistance by PCR. Methodology: This cross sectional study was done for a period of six months. Totally 106 Staphylococcus aureus isolates was obtained various clinical samples were processed using standard guidelines. Result: From the 106 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus 67(63.3%) were MSSA and 39(36.7%) were MRSA. D-test was positive in n=9 of the n=21 MRSA and n=17 of the n=85 MSSA, which denotes inducible Clindamycin resistance. N- 9 of MRSA and n=13(22%) of MSSA showed Constitutional Clindamycin resistance. The statistics show that there is a significant Difference in constitutive resistance between MRSA and MSSA. In India ermA gene is most prevalent, out of 22 d-test positive n=13 ermA gene were detected (n=3-MRSA and n=10-MSSA) by using conventional PCR. Conclusion: The MLSB family of antibiotics is one such alternative and CD is preferred. Clinical microbiology laboratories should report inducible Clindamycin resi