Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in non-outbreak skin infections

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and risk factors for the acquisition of MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) as the main cause of skin and soft tissue infections. S. aureus were characterized for the presence of PVL, TSST-1 and mecA genes. SCCmec typing was carried out in mecA positive strains and PFGE was performed only in these strains. During the study period, 127 outpatients attending a dermatology clinical the Botucatu Medical School, a regional tertiary hospital in Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil, were diagnosed with active skin infections. A total 66 (56.9%) S. aureus strains were isolated. The methicillin resistance gene mecA was detected in seven (10.6%) S. aureus strains. The SCCmec types detected in the seven mecA-positive S. aureus strains were type Ia in one, type II in three, and type IV in three. The PVL gene was detected in 10 (15.1%) in sensitive strains. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed non-clonal diversity among the isolates. The risk factors associated with MRSA acquisition in this study were previous ciprofloxacin use and working in a healthcare environment. The risk factors indicate plausible routes of CA-MRSA transmission among the subjects studied.

Molecular epidemiology of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Brazilian primary health care system

“…The TSST-1 gene was identified in 5% of the S. aureus isolates, all MSSA. Similar results have been reported in other studies [34,35]. A low frequency of the PVL gene was also observed in other studies conducted in the region [22,35,36].…”

Seek and Find! PCR analyses of skin infections in West-European travelers returning from abroad with an eschar

“…It was previously reported that S. aureus was responsible for 8-18% of all skin diseases in travelers returning from abroad without specific geographical repartition [16]. No mecA resistance genes were found in our survey which does not corroborate results obtained in patients living in or returning from developing countries and suffering skin infections [16][17][18][19]. This could result from the small effective of S. aureus skin infections in our study.…”

Epidemiology and molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus from skin and soft tissue infections in Shiraz, Iran

“…The prevalence of MRSA was higher in our study compared to similar studies from Turkey (31.81%) (16), Beijing (3%) (17), Egypt (47.37%) (18), and Sao Paulo (10.6%) (15). It was similar to the rate reported from Torrance, California (66.57%) (3), and lower than the rate found in a general report from the United States (79%) (19).…”

“…Identification of the mecA gene is the most reliable method to identify MRSA carriers early in their hospitalization. This allows the prompt initiation of isolation measures to minimize MRSA transmission to other patients and health care providers (15).…”