Detection of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered to have emerged from S . aureus through the acquisition of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ), which carries the mec A gene for methicillin resistance. Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains carry one of SCC mec types (IV or V). In addition they carry Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CA-MRSA in Makkah hospitals by detection mec A, SCC mec types (IV and V) and PVL genes. One hundred bacterial isolates were confirmed to carry mec A gene. CA-MRSA was detected in 44% of these MRSA isolates, 30% were SCC mec type IV; 14% were SCC mec type V and 21% were harbored the PVL gene. Molecular methods are useful for diagnosis and typing of MRSA pathogens. CA-MRSA was found to be high in Makkah hospitals and hence the infection-control guidelines for of CA-MRSA are necessary to be improved.