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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates causing skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs)

Dan Yao1, Fang-you Yu, Zhi-qiang Qin

  • 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou325000, China.

BMC Infectious Diseases
|May 27, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA, causes skin infections. This study investigated the molecular characteristics of these bacteria in Wenzhou, China, finding significant diversity and spread of specific clones.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), is a significant cause of pyogenic skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs).
  • Understanding the molecular characteristics of S. aureus isolates is crucial for effective treatment and control of SSTIs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with purulent skin and soft tissue infections in Wenzhou, China.
  • To determine the prevalence of MRSA and identify specific molecular types and virulence factors.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 111 S. aureus isolates from pus samples between 2002 and 2008.
  • Utilized pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for homology analysis, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) for sequence types (STs), and multiplex PCR for SCCmec, mecA, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes.

Main Results:

  • Identified 60 MRSA isolates, with SCCmec types II, III, IV, and V detected.
  • Determined 25 different STs, with ST239, ST1018, ST59, ST7, and ST88 being predominant.
  • Found high prevalence of PVL genes (23.4%), particularly in community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). ST239-MRSA-SCCmecIII and ST1018-MRSA-SCCmecIII were identified as major circulating clones.

Conclusions:

  • S. aureus isolates causing SSTIs exhibit significant molecular heterogeneity.
  • High prevalence of PVL genes and clonal spread contribute to the dissemination of S. aureus associated with SSTIs.

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