A molecular epidemiological study of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcienvironmental contamination in railway stations and coach stations in Guangzhou of China

Abstract

This is the first study to comprehensively report the prevalence, antibiotic resistance, and molecular characteristics of contamination of Staphylococci isolates in railway stations and coach stations of China. It will have great public health implications on infection control in community settings because of the serious hazard of Staphylococci, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococci. Our findings have provided evidence for relevant departments to reduce the contamination of Staphylococci in environment of public transport stations.

A molecular epidemiological study of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> contamination in the airport environment

“…In the current study, the contamination rate was 7.2% for S. aureus and 2.2% for MRSA, which is similar to the results observed in metro systems in China (11.3% for S. aureus and 2.5% for MRSA), 8 , 9 railway–coach stations in China (7.6% for S. aureus and 1.6% for MRSA), 8 , 9 and public transports in Japan (2.3% for MRSA). 23 However, low MRSA contamination rate was found in toilet door handles from 136 airports in 59 countries (0.25%), 10 and no MRSA isolates were recovered from public transports in London and Serbia.…”

“… 27 It should be noted that six linezolid-resistant isolates were found in this study, which is consistent with Chinese studies in metro systems and railway–coach stations. 8 , 9 The rate of multidrug resistance among S. aureus was high in 62.9%, which is similar to the results from metro systems (55.6%), railway–coach stations (62.1%), and busses (65.0%). 8 , 9 , 28 Notably, two MRSA isolates expressed the multiresistance cfr gene, and the latest studies in China and European countries have also reported the occurrence of cfr -mediated multiresistance in staphylococci from animals and livestock-related human beings.…”

“… 8 , 9 The rate of multidrug resistance among S. aureus was high in 62.9%, which is similar to the results from metro systems (55.6%), railway–coach stations (62.1%), and busses (65.0%). 8 , 9 , 28 Notably, two MRSA isolates expressed the multiresistance cfr gene, and the latest studies in China and European countries have also reported the occurrence of cfr -mediated multiresistance in staphylococci from animals and livestock-related human beings. 29 – 31 In addition, the predominant MDR pattern in this study was co-non-susceptibility to clindamycin, erythromycin, and quinupristin–dalfopristin, which is consistent with the findings from human-related and livestock-related MRSA in China.…”

“…For surface samples from Chinese metro systems, the predominant STs were ST5 and ST188 for S. aureus and ST398-MRSA-II for MRSA, 8 while for a study in railway and coach stations in China, the most prevalent STs were ST5 and ST72 for S. aureus and ST15-MRSA-IVa for MRSA. 9 In public transports in Portu-gal, ST22-MRSA-IV was the most prevalent genotype for MRSA. 37 , 38 These findings exhibit marked clonal diversity and regional difference in genotype distribution.…”

“…To date, most studies mainly focused on MRSA contamination in the environment of public transports, indicating that environment surfaces in public transports may be a hazardous reservoir for the transmission of S. aureus (including MRSA) to passengers. 8 , 9 A study of airport door handles revealed that the contamination rate was 5.5% for S. aureus and 0.3% for MRSA. 10 In addition, the latest report described the introduction of various multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria through a patient repatriated after hospitalization abroad and family members receiving this repatriated patient who were also colonized with MDR bacteria, which emphasize the importance of adherence to isolation precautions for returning patients.…”