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Published on: November 4, 2016
[Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Paraguayan children: clinical, phenotypic and genotypic
Rosa Guillén1, Letizia Carpinelli1, Fátima Rodríguez1
1Departamento de Biología Molecular y Biotecnología, Departamento de Análisis Clínicos y Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, Paraguay.
Insights
Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections are rising in children. This study characterized clinical, phenotypic, and genotypic features of pediatric S. aureus isolates in Paraguay, finding 18.7% methicillin resistance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Increasing prevalence of community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections in pediatric populations necessitates epidemiological surveillance.
- Pediatric patients are disproportionately affected by Staphylococcus aureus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a clinical, phenotypic, and genotypic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from children with community-acquired infections in Paraguay.
- To analyze antibiotic susceptibility, and the presence of mecA and luk-PV genes in pediatric S. aureus isolates.
Main Methods:
- Descriptive and transverse study with an analytical component.
- Clinical data collected from medical records.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing (CLSI criteria) and PCR detection of mecA and luk-PV genes.
Main Results:
- 123 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were analyzed; 76% from skin/soft tissue infections, 20% from sepsis.
- 18.7% of isolates were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- The mecA gene was detected in 12.2% and Panton Valentine leucocidin (PVL) in 48 isolates; 43% of MRSA carried luk-PV.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in pediatric patients in Paraguay.
- No significant clinical or demographic differences were observed between MRSA and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infected patients.
Introduction:
The prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in the community has increased, being the pediatric population the most affected. This fact highlights the need for epidemiological surveillance.
Aim:
To characterize clinical, phenotypic and genotypic isolates of S. aureus children's samples with community-acquired infections, collected in hospitals of Asuncion and the Central Department, between November 2009 and December 2010.
Materials And Methods:
Descriptive and transverse analysis with analytical component. Clinical data collected by medical records, antibiotic susceptibility according to CLSI criteria and detection of mecA (encoding methicillin resistance) and luk-PV genes (encoding Panton Valentine leucocidin) by PCR using specific oligonucleotides.
Results:
123 isolates of S. aureus, 76% came from skin and soft tissue infections and 20% from sepsis. 18.7% (n = 23) were resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The presence of the mecA gene, a variant there and the PVL was detected in 12.2 and 48 isolates respectively. 43% of MRSA (n = 10) was carrying luk-PV. The clinical and demographic differences between patients infected with MRSA or MSSA were not statistically significant.
Discussion:
This study constitutes the first phenotypic and genotypic characterization of S. aureus associated with pediatric patients in Paraguay.
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