Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in Conjunctivitis: Efflux Pumps and Virulence Factors

الملخص

Pink eye or conjunctivitis remains one of the most widespread eye infections where Staphylococcus aureus which is both virulent and antibiotic-resistant stands among several infecting pathogens as a Gram-positive bacterium. This study aimed to characterize S. aureus in conjunctivitis, focusing on antimicrobial susceptibility Patterns, efflux pumps and virulence genes. The researchers obtained 150 sample collections from patients experiencing symptoms of conjunctivitis at From Al-Nasiriyah Teaching Hospital along with Al-Haboubi General Hospital in Ophthalmology Consultant at Dhi Qar Governorate in Iraq throughout August to December 2024. These samples received culture on blood, chocolate, and MacConkey agar media. Of the isolates, 34 (40%) were typed as S. aureus by the Vitek2 compact system. Antibiotic susceptibility testing indicated resistance in some of the isolates, and further assessment of efflux pump activity was performed by the ethidium bromide cartwheel method. Of the 20 resistant isolates, 7 (20.6%) were found to have efflux pump activity. Molecular analysis by PCR identified the presence of three virulence genes sigB, katG, and clfA in all efflux-positive isolates. The genes perform multiple functions which include stress response together with oxidative defense and host adhesion mechanisms and specifically contribute to S. aureus pathogenicity of conjunctivitis. The article highlights S. aureus's survival and adaptation through antibiotic resistance and virulence factor mechanisms and producing difficulties in bacterial conjunctivitis control.