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A study on postoperative enteritis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Y Takesue1, T Yokoyama, T Kodama
1First Department of Surgery, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Abstract:
We investigated the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) with respect to coagulase types by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A total of 138 strains of MRSA, which were isolated from clinical materials in the surgical ward between 1983 and 1990, were studied. Coagulase type IV strains produced SE A only, whereas coagulase type II strains were classified into four groups by SE production: SE B producing strains (32.7%), SE C producing strains (29.8%), SE B and C coproducing strains (12.5%), and SE A and C coproducing strains (25.0%). Almost all of the organisms (nine of ten) which were isolated from the feces of patients with MRSA enteritis were SE A and C coproducing strains. The coincidence in time of the prevalence of MRSA enteritis and the isolation SE A and C coproducing strains also demonstrated that these strains caused MRSA enteritis. Although SE C producing strains and SE A and C coproducing strains were simultaneously prevalent in 1990, the former tended to be sensitive while the latter tended to be resistant to minocycline. Considering the variety of antibiotic sensitivity in coagulase type II strains, it is thus considered to be of critical importance for epidemiologic purposes to further characterize isolates by SE typing.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains were analyzed for staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) production. Coagulase type II MRSA strains were linked to MRSA enteritis, with SE A and C coproducing strains being most prevalent.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections.
- Staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) are key virulence factors implicated in food poisoning and other infections.
- Understanding the relationship between MRSA coagulase types and SE production is crucial for epidemiological surveillance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between coagulase types of MRSA and the production of specific staphylococcal enterotoxins.
- To identify the SE profiles of MRSA strains isolated from clinical settings and their correlation with enteritis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 138 MRSA strains isolated from clinical materials between 1983 and 1990.
- Determination of coagulase types and staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE A, SE B, SE C) production profiles for each strain.
- Comparison of SE profiles with clinical data, including cases of MRSA enteritis.
Main Results:
- Coagulase type IV MRSA strains exclusively produced SE A.
- Coagulase type II MRSA strains exhibited diverse SE production: SE B (32.7%), SE C (29.8%), SE B and C (12.5%), and SE A and C (25.0%).
- SE A and C coproducing strains were predominantly isolated from patients with MRSA enteritis and showed resistance to minocycline.
Conclusions:
- Coagulase type II MRSA strains, particularly those producing SE A and C, are strongly associated with MRSA enteritis.
- SE typing of MRSA isolates is critical for epidemiological investigations due to variations in antibiotic sensitivity.
- Further characterization of MRSA by SE typing aids in understanding disease causation and guiding treatment strategies.