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Genomic profiling of methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates in Kuwait hospitals

Samar S Boswihi1, Wadha A Alfouzan1,2, Edet E Udo1

  • 1Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|August 1, 2024
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study investigated methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in Kuwait hospitals, revealing diverse genetic backgrounds dominated by specific clones. Findings highlight the stability of these MSSA clones over time, providing crucial data for infection control strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of both community and hospital-acquired infections.
  • Limited data exists on the genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance profiles of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in Kuwaiti hospitals.
  • Understanding MSSA clonal composition is crucial for effective infection prevention and control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antibiotic resistance patterns and genetic backgrounds of MSSA isolates from Kuwait hospitals.
  • To determine the clonal distribution and composition of MSSA colonizing or infecting patients.
  • To establish baseline data on MSSA epidemiology in Kuwait for future surveillance.

Main Methods:

  • Collection of consecutive MSSA isolates from patients across 13 Kuwaiti public hospitals during 2016 and 2021.
  • Characterization using antibiogram profiling, staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing, DNA microarray analysis, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST).
  • Analysis of 446 MSSA isolates using standardized laboratory protocols.

Main Results:

  • All MSSA isolates remained susceptible to vancomycin, teicoplanin, linezolid, ceftaroline, rifampicin, and mupirocin.
  • Significant resistance observed for erythromycin (21.3%), clindamycin (14.0%), fusidic acid (27.0%), trimethoprim (23.1%), and ciprofloxacin (35.2%).
  • Molecular typing identified 155 spa types, 31 clonal complexes (CCs), and 56 sequence types (STs), with CC1, CC15, CC30, and CC361 being predominant.

Conclusions:

  • MSSA isolates in Kuwait hospitals exhibit diverse genetic backgrounds, primarily driven by CC1, CC15, CC30, and CC361.
  • The clonal distribution remained relatively stable between 2016 and 2021, indicating persistent endemic clones.
  • This study provides the first comprehensive data on MSSA clonal composition in Kuwait, essential for targeted interventions.
Keywords:
DNA microarrayMSSAantibiotic resistancemolecular genotypingspa types

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