The known and unknown facts on probiotics – A review

Abstract :

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen in human beings as well as in animals and is responsible for a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from skin infections to other severe diseases. The methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains are highly pathogenic and are proved to carry a number of virulence factors that intern enable them causing difficult to treat/ manage diseases. Clinically, MRSA acquires significance owing to their transmissibility in clinical set-ups and manifestation frequently as nosocomial infections worldwide. The clinical importance of carrier S. aureus and MRSA observed on par with their clinical counter parts by causing community acquired infections. In this study, carrier S. aureus (n=272) isolated from normal subjects were comparatively evaluated for their degree of susceptibility/ resistance to oxacillin and cefoxitin by the conventional discs diffusion methods as well as by oxacillin agar screening method. Further, among the preliminarily confirmed MRSA strains (n=52), a total of 21 MRSA were screened for mec A gene by PCR. It was identified that10 (47.61%) isolates were positive for mec A gene and were further discussed.