Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Pakistan: molecular characterisation by...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant global health threat.
• Pakistan has a high prevalence of MRSA, yet its molecular epidemiology remains poorly understood.
• Understanding MRSA clonal diversity is crucial for effective infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the molecular epidemiology of MRSA strains in Pakistan.
• To identify dominant MRSA clones and their geographical origins.
• To provide data for surveillance and control strategies.

Main Methods:

• Phenotypic identification of 44 MRSA isolates from Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
• Genotyping using microarray hybridization.
• Analysis of clonal complexes (CCs) and strain types.

Main Results:

• Six clonal complexes and 19 distinct MRSA strains were identified.
• The most common strain was Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive CC772-MRSA-V (Bengal Bay Clone), accounting for 22.3% of isolates.
• Other prevalent strains included ST239-MRSA and CC8-MRSA-IV/CC6-MRSA-IV.
• Epidemiological links to the Middle Eastern/Arabian Gulf region were observed.

Conclusions:

• The study elucidates the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in Pakistan, identifying key circulating clones.
• The findings highlight potential links between Pakistani MRSA strains and those in the Middle East.
• Further research is recommended to monitor MRSA spread and its global connections.