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The first Staphylococcus aureus isolates with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin in Poland
Jolanta Krzysztoń-Russjan1, Marek Gniadkowski, Hanna Połowniak-Pracka
1Sera and Vaccines Central Research Laboratory, ul. Chełmska 30/34, 00-725 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
The first heterogeneously vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) isolates to be identified in Poland were characterized. They were recovered in two Warsaw hospitals and, although in one of these the identification coincided with unsuccessful glycopeptide therapy, the selection conditions and clinical significance of the organisms remain unclear. Molecular typing revealed that the isolates were closely related and belonged to an international methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clone known as 'Iberian'. The analysis of epidemiologically related MRSA isolates and some archival Polish MRSA isolates of the same clone indicated that the hVISA phenotype has been present in the MRSA populations of some hospitals in Poland since at least 1998.
Insights
The first vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) strains in Poland were identified as the
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Science
Background:
- Emergence of antimicrobial resistance is a global health concern.
- Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) poses a treatment challenge.
- Limited data exists on hVISA epidemiology in Eastern Europe.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the first identified heterogeneously vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (hVISA) isolates in Poland.
- To investigate the molecular relatedness and clonal origin of these hVISA isolates.
- To determine the historical presence of the hVISA phenotype in Polish hospitals.
Main Methods:
- Molecular typing (e.g., MLST, spa typing) was employed to analyze isolate relatedness.
- Comparison with existing methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates, including archival samples.
- Phenotypic characterization of vancomycin susceptibility.
Main Results:
- The identified hVISA isolates in Warsaw hospitals were closely related.
- These isolates belonged to the international 'Iberian' methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clone.
- The hVISA phenotype was detected in Polish MRSA populations since at least 1998.
Conclusions:
- The 'Iberian' MRSA clone is associated with the emergence of hVISA in Poland.
- hVISA has been circulating in Polish hospitals for over two decades.
- Further investigation into selection conditions and clinical impact of hVISA is warranted.