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Lectin typing of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Singapore, England and Wales, and Denmark
J O Jarløv1, V T Rosdahl, M Yeo
1Staphylococcus Laboratory, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Abstract:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from a possible outbreak in Singapore (84) were examined together with all MRSA isolated in Denmark in 1986-1990 (58) and 14 distinct epidemic and 10 distinct single hospital strains from England and Wales. All 84 Singapore isolates were phage typed routinely and 52 isolates were further analysed together with the Danish isolates with an additional set of experimental phages and by lectin typing. The British strains, previously phage typed in the same way, were lectin typed. The following lectins were used: wheat-term agglutinin, soy-bean agglutinin, tomato lectin and Concanavalin-A. Routine phage typing of the Danish isolates showed that 41 isolates belonged to 19 different types; 17 isolates were non-typable (NT). Addition of experimental phage typing and lectin typing enhanced discrimination to 47 types. The 24 British strains could be divided into eight [corrected] "lectin types". Sixty-one of the isolates from Singapore were non-typable by phage typing; the remaining 23 strains belonged to five types. Further examination of 52 isolates with the experimental set of phages and by lectin typing gave 14 closely related types; 48% of these isolates belonged to only two types.
Insights
This study enhanced the typing of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by combining phage typing with lectin analysis. This improved discrimination of MRSA strains from Singapore, Denmark, and the UK, aiding outbreak investigations.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant global health threat.
- Accurate strain typing is crucial for monitoring MRSA outbreaks and transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the combined utility of phage typing and lectin typing for enhanced discrimination of MRSA isolates.
- To characterize MRSA strains from Singapore, Denmark, and the UK.
Main Methods:
- MRSA isolates from Singapore, Denmark, and the UK were subjected to routine phage typing.
- A subset of isolates underwent experimental phage typing and lectin typing using wheat germ agglutinin, soybean agglutinin, tomato lectin, and Concanavalin-A.
- British strains were lectin typed, and Danish isolates were analyzed with experimental phages and lectins.
Main Results:
- Routine phage typing showed limited discriminatory power for Danish and Singaporean MRSA.
- Combining experimental phage typing and lectin typing significantly enhanced strain discrimination, identifying 47 types in Danish isolates.
- Lectin typing divided British strains into eight types, while Singaporean isolates, initially poorly typable by phage, were further characterized into 14 related types using combined methods.
Conclusions:
- Phage typing combined with lectin typing offers superior discriminatory power for MRSA compared to routine phage typing alone.
- This enhanced typing strategy is valuable for epidemiological surveillance and outbreak investigations of MRSA.
- The study highlights the diversity and relatedness of MRSA strains across different geographical regions.
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