Identification of the mecA Gene and Evaluation of Biofilm Formation and Presence of IcaB Gene in Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Eye Infection

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent ocular infection that irritates the cornea and conjunctivitis. Determining the function of the biofilm gene (icaB) in S. aureus isolated from eye infection is the goal of the study. Through the identification of the mecA gene, the study assessed the presence of the icaB gene. Between the beginning of September 2023 and the end of January 2024, 125 patients with a clinical diagnosis of bacterial eye infections were seen in Ibn Al-Haitham Teaching Hospital, Baghdad city. The result of study of 125 swap specimen, 55 (44%) specimen were given positive results for infections caused by pathogenic bacteria and/or fungus, or other species of staphylococci, while 70 (56%) specimen were given negative results, which mean the infection caused by other agents. However among 55 positive bacterial isolation swap was 42 isolate (76%) were given positive results for bacterial infections, as (Pseudomonas, Streptococcus spp, Aspergillus spp, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp and others), while 13 (24%) specimen were S. aureus, depending on the morphologic characteristics of this bacterium on the culture media and biochemical tests included manual conventional biochemical tests and automated biochemical tests. Molecular detection was conducted using Polymerase Chain Reaction technique of icaB and mecA gene with 117bp, and 533bp respectively, conclusion: 100% of isolates had the icaB gene, while 69% had the mecA gene.