Molecular typing of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from northern India using coagulase gene PCR-RFLP

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a significant human pathogen.
• Understanding the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus is crucial for infection control.
• Previous studies highlight the need for accessible typing methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To perform molecular typing of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.
• To identify prevalent S. aureus strains within a hospital and community setting.
• To evaluate the utility of coagulase gene PCR for S. aureus typing.

Main Methods:

• Molecular typing of 84 clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
• Utilized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the coagulase gene.
• Analysis of strain types to determine prevalence.

Main Results:

• Identified 33 distinct S. aureus strain types among the 84 isolates.
• Types 2-7 and 9 were the most prevalent, accounting for over 53% of all isolates.
• The coagulase gene PCR method proved effective for strain differentiation.

Conclusions:

• Coagulase gene PCR is a valuable and simple method for molecular typing of S. aureus.
• A diverse range of S. aureus strains circulates in hospital and community environments.
• This technique offers an inexpensive approach to epidemiological surveillance of S. aureus.