Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Patients in Peru

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Clinical Microbiology

Background:

• Limited data exists on the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections (BSIs) in Peru.
• Understanding MRSA prevalence and characteristics is crucial for effective infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of MRSA among Staphylococcus aureus BSIs in Peru.
• To perform molecular typing of MRSA isolates to identify prevalent clones.
• To assess the emergence of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) in Peru.

Main Methods:

• A surveillance study was conducted across 13 hospitals in 10 Peruvian regions from 2017 to 2019.
• A total of 166 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from BSIs were collected and analyzed.
• Phenotypic and genetic characteristics, including SCCmec type and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) production, were determined.

Main Results:

• Overall, 36.1% of Staphylococcus aureus BSIs were caused by MRSA.
• The predominant MRSA clone was the hospital-associated Chilean-Cordobes clone (70%), characterized by multidrug resistance, SCCmec type I, and non-PVL production.
• Five isolates (8.3%) exhibited genetic characteristics of CA-MRSA (SCCmec IV, PVL-producer), found in three different regions.

Conclusions:

• Hospital-associated MRSA is the primary cause of MRSA BSIs in Peru.
• There is evidence of the emergence and potential dissemination of CA-MRSA in Peru.
• Further research is required to understand the full extent of CA-MRSA spread and its clinical implications.