DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i08.070

Pages: 3371-3376

Coagulase negative staphylococci (CoNS) were once considered as skin commensals and dismissed as culture contaminants, are now being recognized as significant nosocomial pathogens. CoNS are also associated with resistance to several commonly used antimicrobial agents. It is important to identify CoNS up to the species level, as the epidemiology, the pathogenecity and drug resistance varies from species to species. Study was carried for period of 12 months. CoNS isolates from various clinical samples, collected from different sites were subjected to biochemical characterization. Antimicrobial susceptibility test were done by using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of eighty six isolates Staphylococcus epidermidis 29(33.7%) was most common isolate, followed by S.hemolyticus 23(26.7%), S.saprophyticus 11(12.8%), and S.hominis 9 (10.5%). Other CoNS isolates were S.lugdunensis 6(7.0%) S. schleiferi 4(4.7%), S.warneri 2(2.4%), S.cohnii 1(1.2%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed maximum resistance to Penicillin and Amoxy-clav with 80%-90% and sensitivity to Gentamicin, Linezolid and Vancomycin (80%-100%). Methicillin resistance was detected in 27(37%) of isolates Due to emergence of multiple drug resistance among CoNS isolates, there is a need to adopt simple laboratory procedures to identify, speciate and determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistant patterns of CoNS.