Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: September 5, 2013
[Multiclonality of methicilin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a university hospital]
N Ben Saida1, H Ben Abdallah, N Hannachi
1Laboratoire de microbiologie et d'immunologie, UR 16/02, CHU F. Hached, avenue Ibn-Jazzar, 4000 Sousse, Tunisia.
Objective:
The methicillin resistance of Staphylococcus aureus MRSA is a major problem for human infections. The authors present a genotypic study of these bacteria to understand the spreading of these strains in a university hospital.
Patients And Methods:
We collected 19 strains of MRSA (September 2003-March 2004) for which the presence of gene mecA had been confirmed by PCR. They were then genotyped in pulsed-field Gel electrophoresis (CHEF variety).
Results:
Resistant strains accounted for 12.9% of all collected S. aureus strains. Most samples came from patients hospitalized or consulting in dermatology. Eleven different antibiotypes and four genotypic profiles were determined: type A (with 8 subtypes), type B (with 2 subtypes), type C, and D.
Conclusion:
MRSA strains have a multiclonal distribution in our hospital with a dominant endemic clone in the dermatological unit. Skin infections are the main hospital source for these strains.
Related Concept Videos
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA