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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
High Prophage Count in Staphylococcus Periprosthetic Joint Infection Is Associated With an Increase in Antibiotic
Tony H Chang1, Robert Manasherob2, Sankalp Mrutyunjaya3
1Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.
Background:
Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) caused by Staphylococcus species present a significant clinical challenge, especially in the context of rising antibiotic resistance. Lysogenic phages (viruses that infect bacteria and can integrate into the bacteria's genome in the form of a prophage) have the potential to contribute to antibiotic resistance and treatment failure through the transport of genetic material between bacteria. We hypothesized that prophage presence may be associated with the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and phenotypic resistance in Staphylococcus species associated with PJI.
Methods:
We examined the relationship between the presence of prophage and antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus isolates collected from synovial fluid samples from 15 PJI patients. Bacterial isolates were assessed for antibiotic resistance and sequenced to identify prophages and antibiotic resistance genes.
Results:
We observed that a higher prophage count was associated with a higher number of antibiotic resistance genes, but not with phenotypic antibiotic resistance. In addition, none of the prophages identified were significantly associated with phenotypic resistance.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that prophages may contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, but the impact on phenotypic resistance may be more complex, highlighting the need for further research to explore prophage profiling in PJI biofilms.
Insights
Prophages may increase antibiotic resistance genes in Staphylococcus periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). However, their direct link to phenotypic resistance in PJI requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) caused by Staphylococcus species are a major clinical concern.
- Rising antibiotic resistance complicates PJI treatment.
- Lysogenic phages (prophages) can potentially spread antimicrobial resistance genes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between prophage presence and antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus species from PJI.
- To determine if prophages correlate with antibiotic resistance genes and phenotypic resistance.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Staphylococcus isolates from synovial fluid of 15 PJI patients.
- Assessment of bacterial antibiotic resistance.
- Whole-genome sequencing to identify prophages and antibiotic resistance genes.
Main Results:
- A higher prophage count correlated with more antibiotic resistance genes.
- Prophage presence was not directly associated with phenotypic antibiotic resistance.
- No identified prophages showed a significant link to phenotypic resistance.
Conclusions:
- Prophages may facilitate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes in PJI.
- The relationship between prophages and phenotypic resistance is complex.
- Further research on prophage profiling in PJI biofilms is warranted.
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