The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes

Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic ocular surface disease with seasonal recurrences and severe forms showing vision threatening complications. The purpose of the study is to understand the prevalence and diversity of biofilm-forming bacteria and antimicrobial resistance in VKC c...

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Main Authors: Nelaveni Rupa, Pragnya Rao Donthineni, Sayan Basu, Kotakonda Arunasri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Biofilm
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207525000267
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author Nelaveni Rupa
Pragnya Rao Donthineni
Sayan Basu
Kotakonda Arunasri
author_facet Nelaveni Rupa
Pragnya Rao Donthineni
Sayan Basu
Kotakonda Arunasri
author_sort Nelaveni Rupa
collection DOAJ
description Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic ocular surface disease with seasonal recurrences and severe forms showing vision threatening complications. The purpose of the study is to understand the prevalence and diversity of biofilm-forming bacteria and antimicrobial resistance in VKC compared to healthy individuals (HC). For this, conjunctival swab samples were collected from VKC (n = 26) and HC (n = 23), of which culture positive samples were 77 % and 78.26 % respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a significant increase in bacterial diversity in VKC compared to HC (p < 0.05), identifying 16 and 9 bacterial species, respectively. Staphylococcus epidermidis emerged as the predominant bacterium in both groups, with relative abundances of 52.8 % in HC and 30.2 % in VKC (p < 0.001). Biofilm formation was observed in 64.15 % of bacterial species in VKC and 31 % in HC (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed temporal biofilm formation by Staphylococcus spp. in both groups. Minimum inhibitory concentration testing showed that biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from VKC exhibited multidrug resistance (>2 antibiotics) more frequently than those from HC. Additionally, Staphylococcus spp. in VKC demonstrated higher resistance to fluoroquinolones compared to HC. These findings indicate a significantly greater prevalence of biofilm-forming and antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus bacteria in VKC Patients compared with HC.
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spelling doaj-art-dfbae0cd318340d5a39384b22d03a8fd2025-08-20T02:16:02ZengElsevierBiofilm2590-20752025-06-01910027810.1016/j.bioflm.2025.100278The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyesNelaveni Rupa0Pragnya Rao Donthineni1Sayan Basu2Kotakonda Arunasri3Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, 500034, Telangana, IndiaShantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, 500034, Telangana, IndiaProf. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, 500034, Telangana, India; Shantilal Shanghvi Cornea Institute, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, 500034, Telangana, IndiaProf. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, 500034, Telangana, India; Corresponding author. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad, 500034, Telangana, India.Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a chronic allergic ocular surface disease with seasonal recurrences and severe forms showing vision threatening complications. The purpose of the study is to understand the prevalence and diversity of biofilm-forming bacteria and antimicrobial resistance in VKC compared to healthy individuals (HC). For this, conjunctival swab samples were collected from VKC (n = 26) and HC (n = 23), of which culture positive samples were 77 % and 78.26 % respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed a significant increase in bacterial diversity in VKC compared to HC (p < 0.05), identifying 16 and 9 bacterial species, respectively. Staphylococcus epidermidis emerged as the predominant bacterium in both groups, with relative abundances of 52.8 % in HC and 30.2 % in VKC (p < 0.001). Biofilm formation was observed in 64.15 % of bacterial species in VKC and 31 % in HC (p < 0.001). Scanning electron microscopy analysis confirmed temporal biofilm formation by Staphylococcus spp. in both groups. Minimum inhibitory concentration testing showed that biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from VKC exhibited multidrug resistance (>2 antibiotics) more frequently than those from HC. Additionally, Staphylococcus spp. in VKC demonstrated higher resistance to fluoroquinolones compared to HC. These findings indicate a significantly greater prevalence of biofilm-forming and antimicrobial resistant Staphylococcus bacteria in VKC Patients compared with HC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207525000267Staphylococcus biofilmsAntimicrobial resistanceVernal keratoconjunctivitisConjunctival bacteria
spellingShingle Nelaveni Rupa
Pragnya Rao Donthineni
Sayan Basu
Kotakonda Arunasri
The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
Biofilm
Staphylococcus biofilms
Antimicrobial resistance
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis
Conjunctival bacteria
title The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
title_full The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
title_fullStr The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
title_full_unstemmed The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
title_short The burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming Staphylococcus spp. from Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
title_sort burden of antimicrobial resistance in biofilm forming staphylococcus spp from vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients eyes
topic Staphylococcus biofilms
Antimicrobial resistance
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis
Conjunctival bacteria
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590207525000267
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