Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec) in methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. A review

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Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
09:03

Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: September 5, 2013

E Garza-González1, R Morfín-Otero, J M Llaca-Díaz

  • 1Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Mexico. elvira_garza_gzz@yahoo.com

Epidemiology and Infection
|December 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are a growing cause of hospital infections. This study tracked methicillin-resistant CNS, finding specific resistance elements and highlighting challenges in accurate detection.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are significant pathogens, with Staphylococcus epidermidis a leading cause of nosocomial sepsis.
  • Methicillin resistance in CNS is common, often linked to staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCCmec) elements.
  • Variability in SCCmec types between CNS and Staphylococcus aureus, alongside inconsistent detection methods, complicates research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of SCCmec elements in CNS.
  • To conduct a 2-year surveillance of methicillin-resistant CNS in a tertiary-care hospital.
  • To address challenges in accurate CNS identification and methicillin resistance detection.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on SCCmec in CNS.
  • Hospital-based surveillance of CNS isolates over two years.
  • Analysis of methicillin resistance and SCCmec types in CNS.

Main Results:

  • Identified clinically significant infections caused by CNS.
  • Observed a high prevalence of methicillin resistance in CNS, associated with SCCmec.
  • Highlighted discrepancies in CNS identification and resistance detection methods.

Conclusions:

  • CNS, particularly S. epidermidis, are important causes of nosocomial infections.
  • Methicillin resistance in CNS is prevalent and mediated by SCCmec elements, with potential CNS-specific variants.
  • Standardized methods are crucial for accurate CNS identification and resistance surveillance.

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