Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prev alence of biofilm-forming bacteria and antibiotic r esistance in the Kavaratti Island, an ecological hotspot of Lakshadweep archipelago. Methods: Fourteen bacterial str ains were isolated by routine microbiological procedure and characterized by the 16 sRNA sequencing. The disc diffusion assays, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) , biofilm fo rmation and degradation assay were carried out by stan dard methods. Results: Antibiotic susceptibility tests revealed the hig hest incidence of antibiotic resistance against vancomycin (57.2%), followed by methicillin (7.1%) and trim ethoprim (7.1%). A total of eight bacterial strains showed biofilm formation. Analysis of biofilm f ormation in the bacterial isolates indicated their role in exhibiting phen otypic resistance against antibiotics based on varied MIC values. MIC values of vancomycin and trimethoprim were found to be upraised in biofilm-forming and biofilm states as compare d to planktonic forms of bacteria. Sub inhibitory concentrations of vancomycin (2µg/ml) and trimethoprim (4µg/ml) promoted biofilm formation. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the coastal realm of Kavaratti Island represented a rich source of bacterial diversity. High incidence of antibiotic resistance among isolated bacterial strains is captivating and might be a consequence of increased number of antibiotic r esistance genes in the coastal resistome and their cross generational transfer.