Examination of 388 Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Intensive Care Unit Patients

Abstract

We have examined the draft genomes of 388 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from intensive care unit patients at three geographically distributed hospitals to determine genomic diversity associated with potential health care worker-associated transmission.

Comparative Genomics Identifies Features Associated with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Transmission in Hospital Settings

“…A total of 15 isolates were not included in the comparative genomic analysis because upon sequencing and quality control of the genome data, the genome was determined to not be S. aureus , did not assemble adequately based on the N50 sequencing metric, or the total genome length or GC% not being similar to S. aureus . Thus, there were a total of 388 MRSA genomes for comparative analysis in the current study, for which we previously described the sequencing and assembly ( 49 ). The study was approved by Institutional Review Boards at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (HP-000066759-16), Weill Cornell Medicine, New York (1610017615), and LaBioMed, California (042087).…”

“…Genomes containing greater than 500 contigs or an aberrant GC percentage were removed from further analysis. A total of 388 genomes were used in the comparative analysis and the relevant genomic details and clinical data are included in Table S1 and were briefly described in Adediran et al ( 49 ).…”

“…(ii) Large scale BLAST score ratio (LS-BSR). LS-BSR analysis of the complete genomic content was performed on the 388 isolates as previously described ( 49 , 52 ). BSR values were visualized ( Fig.…”

Examination of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from the Gloves and Gowns of Intensive Care Unit Health Care Workers

“…These isolates were collected as part of a study to examine the requirements for transmission of S. aureus isolates from colonized or infected patients to the gloves and gowns of health care workers during examined patient contacts ( 1 ). Each isolate has a matching patient isolate that was described previously ( 2 ). Samples were collected under University of Maryland School of Medicine Institutional Review Board approval number HP-00066759.…”

Molecular concordance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from healthcare workers and patients

“…Our cohort contained clinical or surveillance MRSA isolates from 388 independent patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) and the paired isolates from the corresponding HCP's gown or gloves, as part of a previously described study. 5,12,13 In the parent study by O'Hara et al, 5 the MRSA isolates from each patient were defined as high, mid-level, or low transmitters, with the low transmitters having no transmission events that occurred from the patient to HCP. The low-transmitting isolates were not included in this analysis.…”