Comparative antibiotic susceptibility profiling of S. haemolyticus recovered from frequency hand-touched surfaces of hospital settings and urban built environments of central India

Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus), a significant species among coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), has emerged as a pathogenic bacterium with increasing multidrug resistance, posing challenges to its treatment. Notably, this resistance is not limited to clinical settings but extends to non-clinical environments, such as urban built environments (UBEs), which are becoming reservoirs for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on frequently hand-touched surfaces in UBEs and hospital settings. A total of 200 isolates were collected from various sampled areas, cultured on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), and examined for staphylococcal characteristics. All isolates were confirmed as Gram-positive, catalase-positive, and exhibited both positive and negative coagulase responses. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using 12 antibiotics, beginning with ampicillin and methicillin. Among the isolates, 84 exhibited antibiotic resistance, with 51 originating from UBEs and 33 from hospital settings. Further identification using the VITEK 2 system confirmed 28 isolates as S. haemolyticus, of which 16 were from UBEs and 12 were from hospital settings. Notably, multidrug resistance was more prevalent in hospital isolates compared to those from UBEs. The findings provide valuable insights into the epidemiology of S. haemolyticus and underscore the critical need for comprehensive measures to address the spread of antibiotic resistance. These measures should focus on stringent infection control, monitoring resistance patterns, and promoting prudent antibiotic use in both clinical and non-clinical settings.