Entry of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus into the hospital: prevalence and population structure in Heidelberg, Germany 2015-2018.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major pathogens causing community-and healthcare-acquired infections. The presence of the virulence factor Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is associated with recurrent infection and clinical severity and generally regarded as a feature of community associated-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). To date, the focus of PVL-positive MRSA in hospitalized patients has been on outbreaks. We aimed to investigate whether PVL-positive MRSA has penetrated the community-hospital barrier by determining the prevalence of PVL in MRSA of hospitalized patients. MRSA strains isolated from patients hospitalized?>?48 h in Heidelberg University Hospital between 2015 and 2018 Isolates were analysed for the presence of PVL and subjected to spa-typing. PVL-positive MRSA were then characterized by whole genome sequencing. We analysed 740 MRSA isolates in the study period and identified 6.2% (n?=?46) PVL-positivity. 32.6% of PVL-positive MRSA met the criteria for nosocomial acquisition. The most frequent clones among the PVL-positive strains were ST80-t044 (21.7%, n?=?10/46) and ST8-t008 (19.5%, n?=?9/46). WGS identified three possible transmission clusters involving seven patients. In conclusion, we found successful epidemic PVL-positive MRSA clones entering the hospital and causing nosocomial infections. Preventive measures and constant surveillance should be maintained to prevent transmissions and clonal outbreaks.

SUBMITTER: Klein S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7413528 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature