Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Molecular Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolated from Diabetic Foot Infection
Pegah Kananizadeh1, Solmaz Ohadian Moghadam2, Yasaman Sadeghi1
1Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Background & Objective:
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), is one of the most frequent causes for hospitalizations in patients with diabetes. A major problem in the treatment of DFU is the increased-incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The aim of this study was to determine the SCCmec types of MRSA isolates and their epidemiology among patients with diabetes.
Methods:
This study was carried out on 145 diabetic patients with DFUs. The antibiotic susceptibility tests (ASTs) were performed using the disk diffusion method and E-test technique. SCCmec typing was done by multiplex PCR. Moreover, the presence of virulence toxin genes, including pvl and lukED was detected by PCR assay.
Results:
In 145 samples from which S. aureus was predominantly isolated, 19.48% were MRSA. Analysis of MRSA isolates revealed that the most prevalent SCCmec type was type IV (46.7%) followed by type III (30.0%) and type V (20.0%). One strain (3.3%) was untypeable. The prevalence of pvl and lukED was 56.7% and 100%, respectively.
Conclusion:
The high prevalence of MRSA in DFUs represents the high levels of antibiotic usage among patients with diabetes. In this study, resistance to other important clinical antibiotics was detected among MRSA isolates. The high proportion of SCCmec type IV and V strains, even in former hospitalized patients, indicates the entrance of these clones to the clinical setting.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is common in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). SCCmec type IV and V strains are prevalent, highlighting the need for better infection control in diabetic patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Diabetology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a frequent cause of hospitalization for diabetic patients.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant challenge in DFU treatment.
- Understanding MRSA epidemiology in DFUs is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the SCCmec types of MRSA isolates from diabetic foot ulcers.
- To investigate the epidemiology of MRSA in diabetic patients with DFUs.
- To detect virulence toxin genes (pvl and lukED) in MRSA isolates.
Main Methods:
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing (disk diffusion, E-test) was performed on 145 DFU samples.
- SCCmec typing was conducted using multiplex PCR.
- PCR assays were used to detect pvl and lukED virulence genes.
Main Results:
- MRSA was identified in 19.48% of S. aureus isolates from DFUs.
- The most common SCCmec types were IV (46.7%), III (30.0%), and V (20.0%).
- pvl and lukED genes were present in 56.7% and 100% of MRSA isolates, respectively.
Conclusions:
- High MRSA prevalence in DFUs correlates with extensive antibiotic use in diabetic patients.
- MRSA isolates exhibited resistance to other critical antibiotics.
- The dominance of SCCmec types IV and V suggests these clones are entering the clinical setting, even in previously hospitalized patients.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Modern Molecular Taxonomy
01:30Development of Antibiotic Resistance