Detection of accessory gene regulator groups genes and cassette chromosome mec types among Staphylococcus aureus isolated from intensive care unit patients

Abstract

ObjectiveTo detect antibiotic resistance pattern, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), staphylococcal cassete chromosome mec (SCCmec) types and accessory gene regulator (agr) groups among isolates of S. aureus. MethodsOf 78 S. aureus isolates, we performed antibiotic susceptibility test and then, and detected mecA gene, SCCmec types and agr specificity group genes by PCR assay. ResultsAll the isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid. The majority of (94.2%) of methicillin resistant S. aureus harbored SCCmec type III. We detected agr group I in 45% and group II in 34.6% of the isolates. The other strains belonged to agr specificity groups III and IV (3.27% and 22.9%, respectively). ConclusionsThe majority of (45%) S. aureus isolates belonged to agr specificity group I. There was no statistical significant relationship between agr and antibiotic resistance and/or clinical signs.