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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
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Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

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Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Nasal Specimens:

Aly E Abo-Amer1, Sanaa M F Gad El-Rab2, Eman M Halawani3

  • 1Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag 82524, Egypt.

Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
|November 15, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are common in Taif, Saudi Arabia. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) show promise in combating MRSA, especially when combined with penicillin, offering a potential strategy against antibiotic resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus poses a significant public health threat due to high mortality rates.
  • Controlling the transmission and reducing infections caused by S. aureus, particularly antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of MRSA in Taif, Saudi Arabia.
  • To correlate phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity patterns with resistance genes.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against MRSA isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Seventy-two nasal swabs were analyzed for S. aureus and MRSA.
  • MRSA identification involved culture on methicillin-supplemented Mannitol Salt Agar, 16S rRNA sequencing, and biochemical tests.
  • PCR amplification was used to detect specific resistance genes (ermAC, aacA-aphD, tetKM, vatABC, mecA), and resistance plasmids were investigated.

Main Results:

  • MRSA was found in approximately 49% of S. aureus isolates.
  • All MRSA strains were resistant to oxacillin, penicillin, and cefoxitin but susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, mupirocin, and rifampicin.
  • Sixty-one percent of MRSA strains exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR), with the mecA gene present in all MDR-MRSA strains; most MDR-MRSA strains harbored plasmids >10 kb.
  • Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity and a synergistic effect with penicillin against MRSA.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified a substantial MRSA prevalence in Taif, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the need for effective control measures.
  • AgNPs show potential as an antimicrobial agent against MRSA, exhibiting a synergistic effect with penicillin that could aid in managing antibiotic resistance.
  • Findings support the development of community-based programs to control bacterial spread, leveraging the antimicrobial and synergistic properties of AgNPs.
Keywords:
16S rRNAAgNPsMRSAnasal specimensresistance genessynergistic effect

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