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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Multiple highly resistant clones of MRSA circulating among patients with skin and soft tissue infection, Peshawar,
Aman Ullah1, Dorte Frees2, Mujahida Mansoor3
1Institute of Health Sciences, Kohat, https://ror.org/00nv6q035Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Abstract:
We aimed to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance, carriage of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), and the clonal structure of MRSA isolates collected from skin and soft tissue infections at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Between August 2021 and May 2022, 154 non-repetitive MRSA isolates were consecutively collected and characterized by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, SCCmec typing, spa typing, and detection of PVL by PCR. MLST clonal complexes (CCs) were inferred from spa type using the Based Upon Repeat Pattern (BURP) algorithm. High levels of resistance were observed to ciprofloxacin (85.7%), erythromycin (76.0%), sulfamethoxazole (68.8%), gentamicin (68.8%), fusidic acid (57.8%), tetracycline (55.8%), and clindamycin (42.2%). Clonal analysis revealed 16 lineages, with the most frequent being CC8-MRSA-IV (27.3%), PVL-positive "Bengal Bay" CC1/ST772-MRSA-V (26.0%), and CC1-MRSA-IV (16.2%). PVL was detected in 45.5% of isolates across multiple lineages. Our findings highlight the coexistence of high antimicrobial resistance and frequent PVL carriage among MRSA in Pakistan. Given the association of PVL with severe infections and the limited treatment options for multidrug-resistant strains, these data underscore a significant public health concern and the need for systematic surveillance and prudent antibiotic use.
Insights
High antimicrobial resistance and Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL) carriage are prevalent in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Pakistan. These findings highlight a significant public health concern requiring urgent surveillance and antibiotic stewardship.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a global health threat.
- Understanding MRSA epidemiology, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence factors like Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of AMR, PVL carriage, and clonal structure of MRSA isolates from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in Pakistan.
- To identify dominant MRSA lineages and their associated resistance patterns.
Main Methods:
- Collected 154 MRSA isolates from SSTIs between August 2021 and May 2022.
- Performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing, SCCmec typing, spa typing, and PVL detection via PCR.
- Inferred MLST clonal complexes (CCs) from spa types using the BURP algorithm.
Main Results:
- High resistance rates observed for ciprofloxacin (85.7%), erythromycin (76.0%), sulfamethoxazole (68.8%), gentamicin (68.8%), fusidic acid (57.8%), tetracycline (55.8%), and clindamycin (42.2%).
- Identified 16 MRSA lineages, with CC8-MRSA-IV (27.3%), PVL-positive CC1/ST772-MRSA-V (26.0%), and CC1-MRSA-IV (16.2%) being most frequent.
- PVL was detected in 45.5% of isolates across various lineages.
Conclusions:
- Coexistence of high AMR and frequent PVL carriage in Pakistani MRSA isolates.
- The prevalence of PVL-associated MRSA strains with limited treatment options signifies a major public health challenge.
- Emphasizes the need for systematic surveillance and prudent antibiotic use to combat MRSA.
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