Metro system in Guangzhou as a hazardous reservoir of methicillin-resistant Staphylococci: findings from a point-prevalence molecular epidemiologic study

Abstract

Staphylococci are common causes of healthcare-associated and community-associated infections. However, limited data are available on the prevalence, phenotypes and molecular characteristics of Staphylococci in metro system around the world. 320 surface samples were collected from the Guangzhou metro system to isolate and characterize Staphylococci strains. Of the samples, 75.6% (242/320) were contaminated with Staphylococci. The Staphylococci isolates, especially the methicillin resistant isolates, were resistance to most of the antibiotics, with 79.8% (193/242) classified as multidrug resistant (MDR) strains. 8 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carried a range of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) types [I (1), II (3), III (2) and NT (2)]. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were classified into several ST types and showed possible cross transmissions of strains from various sources. All MRSA strains were positive for the qac gene, and only one methicillin-susceptible Staphylococci aureus (MSSA) strain was positive for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. This study demonstrated that environmental surfaces in the Guangzhou metro system may be a hazardous reservoir for transmission of Staphylococci to passengers. The resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants observed among isolates was also noteworthy.

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

“…According to previous study, the considerable differences in the prevalence of MRSA and S. aureus could be affected by factors such as limited sampling locations, varying sampling techniques and different regional hygiene measures (Peng et al . ).…”

“…; Peng et al . ). Moreover, several studies have confirmed that environment is an important medium and vectors for dissemination of S. aureus in population (Hardy et al .…”

“…However, there are few studies focused on the epidemiology of MRSA in public place environments, such as transportation, beaches, schools and so on (Goodwin et al 2012;Mbogori et al 2013). Some studies have found that environmental surfaces of transportation showed particularly higher prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococci (Yeh et al 2011;Peng et al 2015). Moreover, several studies have confirmed that environment is an important medium and vectors for dissemination of S. aureus in population (Hardy et al 2006).…”

DNA decontamination methods for internal quality management in clinical PCR laboratories

“…Clinical PCR laboratories typically have viral DNA present, enabling the development of molecular methods to detect environmental contamination. PCR was primarily developed for in vitro diagnostic use for the identification of pathogenic microorganisms . Our group uses PCR to amplify HBV DNA as an indicator of contamination under such conditions.…”

Building a genomic framework for prospective MRSA surveillance in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland

“…This has identified global and local transmission routes and, when combined with epidemiological data, can confirm or refute putative MRSA outbreaks (Köser et al 2012;Harris et al 2013;Nubel et al 2013;Miller et al 2014;Török et al 2014;Bartels et al 2015). Similarly, while surveillance of MRSA has been carried over several years and a limited number of point prevalence studies of variable methodology have been undertaken in different settings, serial systematic prevalence studies of individual epidemic lineages are lacking (Johnson et al 2012;Afshinnekoo et al 2015;Bartels et al 2015;Peng et al 2015). WGS could potentially be used for national and local surveillance of MRSA lineages and to enhance the investigation of suspected outbreaks, but comprehensive genomic databases are required to provide the context that would allow robust epidemiological interferences.…”