Dataset Information

Diversity of SCCmec elements in Staphylococci isolated from public washrooms.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococci are commonly associated with antibiotic resistance in healthcare settings including resistance to methicillin and other beta lactam antibiotics primarily associated with the carriage of SCCmec mobile genetic elements. We investigated oxacillin susceptibility in 11 different species of environmental staphylococci to evaluate the potential dissemination of such resistance determinants in staphylococcal isolates from non-healthcare environments.Staphylococci isolated from public washrooms were analysed for SCCmec type and for antibiotic susceptibility. MICs to oxacillin ranged from 0.12 to 128 mg/L. Of the 32 strains investigated, there were representatives of 11 different species of staphylococci. 21 of the 32 isolates were assigned to known SCCmec types. These typeable strains primarily included those assigned to SCCmec type I (n?=?8), type IV (n?=?6) and type VI (n?=?7). In addition to these isolates, 3 strains of EMRSA-15 were identified from different environmental sites.We have demonstrated the diversity of SCCmec elements in a wide range of staphylococcal species isolated from outside of healthcare settings. We have also shown that the variability in oxacillin MICs in such isolates are unrelated to species or SCCmec type. The isolation of EMRSA-15 is also of concern to infection control in the community.

SUBMITTER: Mkrtchyan HV

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4465472 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Diversity of SCCmec elements in Staphylococci isolated from public washrooms.

Mkrtchyan Hermine V HV Xu Zhen Z Cutler Ronald R RR

BMC microbiology 20150614

<h4>Background</h4>Staphylococci are commonly associated with antibiotic resistance in healthcare settings including resistance to methicillin and other beta lactam antibiotics primarily associated with the carriage of SCCmec mobile genetic elements. We investigated oxacillin susceptibility in 11 different species of environmental staphylococci to evaluate the potential dissemination of such resistance determinants in staphylococcal isolates from non-healthcare environments.<h4>Results</h4>Staph ...[more]

PMID: 26071078

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Project description:SCCmec elements are very important mobile genetic elements in Staphylococci that carry beta-lactam resistance genes mecA/mecC, recombinase genes and a variety of accessory genes. Twelve main types and a couple of variants have yet been described. In addition, there are also other SCC elements harbouring other markers. In order to subtype strains of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) based on variations within their SCCmec elements, 86 markers were selected from published SCC sequences for an assay based on multiplexed primer extension reactions followed by hybridisation to the specific probes. These included mecA/mecC, fusC, regulatory genes, recombinase genes, genes from ACME and heavy metal resistance loci as well as several genes of unknown function. Hybridisation patterns for published genome or SCC sequences were theoretically predicted. For validation of the microarray based assay and for stringent hybridisation protocol optimization, real hybridization experiments with fully sequenced reference strains were performed modifying protocols until yielded the results were in concordance to the theoretical predictions. Subsequently, 226 clinical isolates from two hospitals in the city of Dresden, Germany, were characterised in detail. Beside previously described types and subtypes, a wide variety of additional SCC types or subtypes and pseudoSCC elements were observed as well as numerous composite elements. Within the study collection, 61 different such elements have been identified. Since hybridisation cannot recognise the localisation of target genes, gene duplications or inversions, this is a rather conservative estimate. Interestingly, some widespread epidemic strains engulf distinct variants with different SCCmec subtypes. Notable examples are ST239-MRSA-III, CC5-, CC22-, CC30-, and CC45-MRSA-IV or CC398-MRSA-V. Conversely, identical SCC elements were observed in different strains with SCCmec IVa being spread among the highest number of Clonal Complexes. The proposed microarray can help to distinguish isolates that appear similar or identical by other typing methods and it can be used as high-throughput screening tool for the detection of putative new SCC types or variants that warrant further investigation and sequencing. The high degree of diversity of SCC elements even within so-called strains could be helpful for epidemiological typing. It also raises the question on scale and speed of the evolution of SCC elements.

Dataset Information

Diversity of SCCmec elements in Staphylococci isolated from public washrooms.

Publications

Diversity of SCCmec elements in Staphylococci isolated from public washrooms.

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