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Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clonal types in the Czech Republic.
O Melter1, I Santos Sanches, J Schindler
1Unidade de Genética Molecular, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (ITQB/UNL), Oeiras, Portugal.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|August 17, 1999
Summary
The Brazilian MRSA clone (XI:B:B) dominated Czech hospitals (80%) between 1996-1997, while the Iberian MRSA clone (I:E:A) was less common (12%). Molecular typing confirmed these distinct MRSA strains. Keywords: MRSA clones, Brazilian MRSA, Iberian MRSA, molecular surveillance, Czech Republic.
Area of Science:
- Molecular epidemiology
- Infectious disease surveillance
- Microbiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones have spread globally.
- Previous studies identified distinct international MRSA clones: Iberian (I:E:A) and Brazilian (XI:B:B).
- Genomic typing methods like PFGE and DNA probes differentiate these clones.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize MRSA isolates from the Czech Republic using established molecular typing techniques.
- To determine the prevalence and distribution of known MRSA clones within Czech hospitals.
- To correlate genotypic characteristics with specific ribotypes.
Main Methods:
- Characterization of 59 MRSA isolates from Czech hospitals (1996-1997).
- Utilized ClaI restriction digests with mecA and Tn554 probes, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
- Employed ribotyping with EcoRI and HindIII digests and a 16S-23S DNA probe.
Main Results:
- The Brazilian MRSA clone (XI:B:B) was highly prevalent (80%), found in Prague and Brno.
- The Iberian MRSA clone (I:E:A or variant I:DD:A) was less common (12%), detected in Prague and Plzen.
- Brazilian clone strains predominantly showed ribotype E1H1 (45/47), while Iberian strains showed ribotype E2H2 (6/7).
Conclusions:
- The Brazilian MRSA clone (XI:B:B) was the dominant strain circulating in the Czech Republic during the study period.
- The Iberian MRSA clone (I:E:A) was also present but less widespread.
- Specific ribotypes (E1H1 and E2H2) were strongly associated with the Brazilian and Iberian MRSA clones, respectively.