Community-acquired methicillin resistantStaphylococcus aureus isolated in dermatology department

Abstract

Community-acquired methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains, known as a nosocomial pathogen, have emerged in the community worldwide. CA-MRSA infects frequently young children and is implicated in skin and soft tissue infections. In the present study, we reported the isolation of CA-MRSA strains from elderly patients admitted to the dermatology department at University Hospital of Monastir. The relatedness of these isolates was investigated by PFGE typing which indicated that all strains were clonally related. MRSA strains were thoroughly characterized by molecular methods which revealed that all isolates possessed the unique sequence type ST80 as well as a single spa type t044. Whole genotypic results suggest that all isolates were PVL producing CA-MRSA and were closely related and belonging to the ST80 clone.