title: Analysis of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and its Associated SCCmec Types among Nasal Carriage of Methicillin Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci from Community Settings, Chennai, Southern India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study was designed to find the distribution of SCCmec types and the various antibiotic resistance genes amongst MR-CoNS isolates from asymptomatic individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 145 nasal swabs were collected from asymptomatic healthy individuals from community settings. Identification and speciation of CoNS were done by standard biochemical methods. Screening of methicillin resistance (mecA gene) and detection of various antibiotic resistant genes were done using multiplex PCR method. SCCmec types (I - V) were determined using multiplex PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  50 (44.6%) isolates were found to be methicillin resistant both by cefoxitin method and multiplex PCR. S. epidermidis (40%) was the predominant species followed by S. haemolyticus (28%), S. hominis (20%) and S. warneri (12%). Highest resistance was shown for cotrimoxazole (26%), followed by ciprofloxacin (24%), tetracycline (20%), erythromycin (18%), fusidic acid (10%) and mupirocin (6%). Among SCCmec types, 44 isolates showed single type, including type I (30%), type IV (24%), type II (18%), type V (14%) and type III (2%). 6 isolates showed two types, III+IV (n= 2), II+V (n=2), IV+V (n=1) and type I+V (n=1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study in India to study the distribution of antibiotic resistant genes and SCCmec types among MR-CoNS from community settings. This study highlights high prevalence of MR-CoNS in community and its role in harbouring genetically diverse SCCmec elements as antibiotic resistance determinant.
authors.affiliation: Research Scholar, Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras , Taramani, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Saravanan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murugesan
authors.affiliation: Research Scholar, Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras , Taramani, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Nagaraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Perumal
authors.affiliation: Project Trainee, Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras , Taramani, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Surya Prakash
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mahalingam
authors.affiliation: Project Trainee, Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras , Taramani, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Selva Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Dilliappan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras , Taramani, Chennai, India .
authors.forename: Padma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krishnan
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Asymptomatic healthy individuals; MR-CoNS; Nasal carriage; SCCmec