Heavy Metals Tolerance and Antibiotics Susceptibilty Profiles of Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated From Clinical Sources in Baquba city

Abstract

Twenty- one Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various clinical samples (wound , ear , pus , urin and burn ) collected from Baquba General Hospital over a period ( April 2015 to June 2015 ).Out of 21 Staphylococcus aureus isolates , 17 (80.95%) were resistant to methicillin , while 4 (19.04%) were methicillin susceptible. Results of antimicrobial susceptibility showed high resistance to amoxicillin , amoxicillin/clavulanic acid , trimethoprime and cefotaxime with ratio 100% , 76.1% , 76.1% and 71.4% respectively, while isolates resistant oflaxacin with 4.7%. The results showed that 15 isolates of the total (21) of Staphylococcus aureus could produce β-lactamase with percentage (71.4%) , 5 isolates produce of Metalloβ-lactamase with (23.80% ) , and 4 isolates (19.04%) produce ESβLs. Staphylococcus aureus isolates have ability to tolerant the highest concentration of heavy metals like (Cobalt , Copper , iron , Mercury , Zinc) with ratio (57.1% , 52.3% , 66.6% , 33.3% , 61.9%) respectively. Additionally result of plasmid profile presented that all isolates of Staphylococcus aureus contained two band s of plasmid vary in size . Plasmid curing was carried out by acridin orang (256µg/ml) , cobalt and zinc resistance character was found to be present on the chromosomal DNA rather than the plasmid DNA whereas iron , copper and mercury resistance characters were found to be present on the plasmid . Curing result showed the loss of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance property for (cefotaxim , amoxicillin , erythromycin , ciprofloxacin , iron , copper and mercury ) from the isolates and confirms a relationship between antibiotic and heavy metal resistance with plasmid.