Molecular epidemiology of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin-positive community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in pastoral communities of rural south western Uganda. Issue 1 (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asiimwe, Benon; Baldan, Rossella; Trovato, Alberto; Cirillo, Daniela
• Is Part Of: BMC infectious diseases. Volume 17:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Sexually Transmitted Diseases -- Periodicals; 616.905
• DOI: 10.1186/s12879-016-2124-8
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1471-2334

Abstract

Abstract Background The emergence of multidrug resistantStaphylococcus aureus strains, including methicillin resistant (MRSA), is a global concern. Treatment of bacterial infections in Uganda's health care settings is largely empirical, rarely accompanied by laboratory confirmation. Here we show the burden, characteristics of MRSA and epidemiology of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) positive strains in asymptomatic carriers in pastoral households of south-west Uganda. Methods Nasal swabs from 253 participants were cultured following standard methodology. MRSA strains were identified by detection of themecA gene and SCCmec typing, and PVL genes detected by PCR. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was done to evaluate possible transmission patterns.Spa typing of PVL positive isolates was done to study the epidemiology of virulent strains in this setting. Results S. aureus was isolated in 29% (n = 73) of the participants, of which 48 were MRSA bymecA typing. PVL-encoding genes were found in 49.3% (n = 36) of the 73 isolates, of which 25 were alsomecA positive. Among the PVL negative strains (n = 37), 62.2% (n = 23) carried themecA gene. The most common SCCme c type was V, detected in 39 (18 PVL positive and 21 PVL negative) isolates. PFGE clustered 21/36 (58.3%) PVL positive isolates divided in four pulsotypes and 18/37 (48.6%) PVL negative isolates divided in eight pulsotypes. The most prevalentSpa types were t318 (26.5%, n = 9) and t645 (20.6%, n = 7); while other commonSpa types were t11656 (n = 3), t127 (n = 3) and t355 (n = 3). Conclusion The study shows a high prevalence of community acquired (CA)-MRSA, and PVL-positive isolates with two predominantspa types in rural Uganda, further complicating infection control strategies in these underprivileged communities.