Ethanol-selected Staphylococcus aureus small colony variants
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to have the ability to display a small colony variant (SCV) phenotype, which is associated with persistent infections caused by acquisition of various degrees of resistance from antimicrobial therapy. S. aureus is targeted for death via antiseptic techniques, including the use of alcohols; little is known about the effects of these alcohols on the selective fitness of the species. This study displays the selection of ethanol-reduced susceptibility (ERS) SCV mutants with inhibitory concentrations of ethanol. Additionally, these mutants showed changes in susceptibility to various antibiotics and antimicrobials.