Glycopeptide and oxacillin activity against Staphylococcus aureus isolates at a tertiary care center in Lebanon

Souha S Kanj1, Patricia A Ghaleb, George F Araj

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut.

Abstract

Insights

This study found no glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) in Lebanon, despite high rates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). All MRSA strains remained susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Emergence of glycopeptide-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (GISA) is a global concern.
  • Limited data exists on GISA prevalence in Lebanon.
  • This study addresses the lack of local data on antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in Lebanon.
  • To investigate the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA).
  • To assess the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for oxacillin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 147 consecutive clinical isolates of S. aureus from a tertiary care center in Lebanon.
  • Categorization of isolates based on oxacillin agar screen and disk diffusion tests.
  • Determination of MICs for oxacillin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin using E-test.

Main Results:

  • 108 isolates were MRSA (73.5%) and 39 were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).
  • MRSA strains showed high MICs for oxacillin but remained susceptible to vancomycin (MIC50/90: 2/3 μg/mL) and teicoplanin (MIC50/90: 1/1.5 μg/mL).
  • No GISA isolates were detected.

Conclusions:

  • Lebanese MRSA strains exhibit high oxacillin resistance but remain susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin.
  • The absence of GISA suggests current treatment strategies remain effective in this region.
  • Continued surveillance for antimicrobial resistance in S. aureus is crucial.

Related Concept Videos

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis01:23

Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis

Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Antibiotic Selection00:57

Antibiotic Selection

Overview