Assessment of minimum inhibitory concentration to vancomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and mupirocin against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates by antibiotic gradient strips

Background: Staphylococcus aureus infections are one of the most common and serious hospital-acquired infections seen in developing countries. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important human pathogen and normally colonized in body parts including skin, nose, perineum and throat. MRSA is resistant not only to all β-lactam groups but also other antibiotics including aminoglycosides, tetracycline and macrolides. In the present study the efficacy of agents used in the management of MRSA infections was determined by antibiotic gradient testing. Methods: A total of 60 clinical isolates of MRSA strains were collected from various diagnostic labs in central Kerala. Clinical isolates were reconfirmed as MRSA by gram staining, yellow-coloured colonies on mannitol salt Agar (MSA). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion method as recommended by CLSI guidelines. S. aureus isolates resistant to cefoxitin (30 µg) was identified as MRSA. Antibiotic gradient testing was performed to determine the MIC of vancomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and mupirocin against MRSA isolates. Results: All the 60 MRSA isolates tested were sensitive to vancomycin, tigecycline, linezolid, daptomycin, ceftaroline and mupirocin (100%) and none of the MRSA isolates show resistance.  Conclusions: Results of present study indicates that these agents may be used alongside vancomycin in management of infection caused by MRSA

Evaluation of Bioplastic Developed from Corn Starch and Euphorbia antiquorum Latex

Traditional plastic materials have a negative environmental impact and one potential strategy to reduce this rising plastic pollution is to use compostable materials like bioplastic. An experiment was conducted at RVS School of Engineering and Technology, Dindigul to synthesize bioplastic from agricultural products like corn starch, latex of Euphorbia antiquorum and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). Two sets of blend bioplastic film samples were prepared using solution casting method; Sample A (corn starch + latex of Euphorbia antiquorum) and Sample B (corn starch + latex of Euphorbia antiquorum + PVA). Studies on the degradation properties were carried out by solubility, swelling and soil burial test. The biodegradability of the samples was investigated by soil burial test. Based on this study, the Sample A film without PVA was found to be highly biodegradable as compared to Sample B. The solubility and swelling tests were performed using organic solvents; ammonia, acetic acid, methanol and water. The swelling property of Sample B film showed less percentage of swelling. The solubility test showed that none of the bioplastic samples were completely soluble in any of the organic solvents. Result of this research work indicated that the bioplastic with incorporation of PVA is a better alternative to conventional plastic films