TRITON X-100 ALTERS THE RESISTANCE LEVEL OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS TO OXACILLIN

We used population analysis to examine the effects of Triton X-100 on the level of resistance to oxacillin of 18 methicillin-resistant Staph ylococcus aureus. In the presence of 0.02% Triton X-100, 17 formerly m ethicillin-resistant strains exhibited enhanced sensitivity to oxacill in. One homogeneous isolate, KSAF1 was barely affected by the Triton X -100. Sensitivities of lysostaphin, 51 kDa N-acetylglucosaminidase and 62 kDa N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase to heat-in-activated cells were not affected when the bacteria were grown in 0.02% Triton X-100. Our data, together with those of a previous study, suggested that Trit on X-100 alters the resistance level of methicillin-resistant S. aureu s by influencing a factor(s) other than PBPs, bacteriolytic enzymes, o r femAB products.