Detection of New Virulence Genes in mecA-positive Staphylococcus aureus Isolated From Clinical Samples: The First Report From Iran. Issue 6 (November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Eshaghi, Morteza; Bibalan, Meysam Hasannejad; Pournajaf, Abazar; Gholami, Mehrdad; Talebi, Malihe
• Is Part Of: Infectious diseases in clinical practice. Volume 25:Issue 6(2017:Nov.)
• Publication Date: 2017-11
• Subjects: Staphylococcus aureus -- MRSA -- sasX -- psm; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases; Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1097/IPC.0000000000000506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1056-9103

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a main clinical and epidemiological concern for the past decades. These isolates have spread worldwide, causing health care– and community-associated infections. The aim of the present work was the determination of antibiotic resistance profile and simultaneous detection of psm-α and sasX genes in the clinical MRSA strains isolated from Tehran—the first report from Iran. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on hospitalized patients during August to February 2015. Antibiotic susceptibility test for all S. aureus isolates was conducted on Mueller-Hinton agar. The presence of mecA, sasX, and psm genes was detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction method. Results: Of 153 S. aureus, 79 (51.6%) of the strains carried the mecA gene. Molecular analysis of mecA -positive S. aureus showed that the prevalence of sasX and psm genes was 13.9% (11/79) and 7.6% (6/79), respectively. Conclusions: This is the first report of sasX and psm genes among S. aureus isolates from Iran. Phenol-soluble modulins have recently appeared as a novel toxin family describing the virulence potential of vastly aggressive S. aureus . Current understanding is needed on S. aureus surface protein-encoding gene sasX, which plays a vital role in colonization and pathogenesis of MRSA. Abstract : This study is the first report from Iran about the prevalence of sasX virulence gene in clinical samples.