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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
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Published on: February 9, 2011

MRSA ST22-IVa (EMRSA-15 clone) in Palermo, Italy

Celestino Bonura1, Maria Rosa Anna Plano, Paola Di Carlo

  • 1Department of Sciences for Health Promotion G. D'Alessandro, Section of Microbiology, University of Palermo, Italy.

Journal of Infection and Public Health
|December 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains with Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassettes (SCC) mec type IV are spreading. In Palermo, Italy, SCCmec type IVa was found in 12 of 94 MRSA isolates, with ST22-IVa (EMRSA-15) being a common clone.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Increasing reports of epidemic spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains harboring Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassettes (SCC) mec type IV globally.
  • Need to understand the prevalence and characteristics of these MRSA strains in specific geographical regions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and characteristics of MRSA isolates carrying SCCmec type IV in four general hospitals in Palermo, Italy.
  • To investigate the molecular epidemiology of MRSA SCCmec IV isolates, including clone identification.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was conducted between February and June 2009.
  • MRSA isolates were identified and characterized.
  • SCCmec typing was performed.
  • Molecular typing (e.g., MLST) was used to identify specific clones.

Main Results:

  • SCCmec type IVa was identified in 12 out of 94 MRSA isolates.
  • The ST22-IVa (EMRSA-15) clone was identified in nine isolates across all hospitals.
  • All strains from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) outbreak were also attributed to the ST22-IVa (EMRSA-15) clone.

Conclusions:

  • The ST22-IVa (EMRSA-15) clone is a significant cause of MRSA infections, including outbreaks, in the studied hospitals in Palermo.
  • The changing MRSA epidemiology suggests that the detection of SCCmec IV may not be a reliable predictor of Community-Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) in this setting.

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