Abstract
PurposeThe aim of the study was to characterize clinical and environmental Staphylococcus pettenkoferi isolates with regard to genomic diversity and antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Repetitive-sequence-based PCR and core genome phylogenetic analysis of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data verified the presence of distinct clades comprising closely related S. pettenkoferi isolates from different geographical locations and origins.MethodologyPhylogenetic relationships between 25 S. pettenkoferi isolates collected from blood cultures and intra-operative air sampling were determined by repetitive-sequence-based PCR typing and analysis of ~157 000 SNPs identified in the core genome after WGS. Antibiotic susceptibility testing and tests for biofilm production (microtitre plate assay) were performed.ResultsRepetitive-sequence-based PCR as well as WGS data demonstrated the close relatedness of clinically significant blood culture isolates to probable contaminants, as well as to environmental isolates. Antibiotic-susceptibility testing demonstrated a low level of antimicrobial resistance. The mecA gene was present in two cefoxitin-resistant isolates. No isolates were found to produce biofilm.ConclusionClose genomic relatedness of S. pettenkoferi isolates from different geographical locations and origins were found within clades, but with substantial genomic difference between the two major clades. The ecological niche of S. pettenkoferi remains unconfirmed, but the presence of S. pettenkoferi in the air of the operating field favours the suggestion of a role in skin flora. Identification of S. pettenkoferi in clinical samples should, in a majority of cases, most likely be regarded as a probable contamination, and its role as a possible pathogen in immunocompromised hosts remains to be clarified.
Highlights
Staphylococcus pettenkoferi was first proposed as a novel staphylococcal species by Trülzsch et al in 2002, after phenotypic and genotypic characterization of two clinical coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates from a German hospital [1]
Repetitive-sequence-based PCR as well as whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data demonstrated the close relatedness of clinically significant blood culture isolates to probable contaminants, as well as to environmental isolates
Close genomic relatedness of S. pettenkoferi isolates from different geographical locations and origins were found within clades, but with substantial genomic difference between the two major clades
Summary
Staphylococcus pettenkoferi was first proposed as a novel staphylococcal species by Trülzsch et al in 2002, after phenotypic and genotypic characterization of two clinical coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates from a German hospital [1]. With the introduction of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MALDITOF MS) in clinical practice, species identification of S. pettenkoferi is no longer difficult, and correct identification of this novel staphylococcal species in clinical samples is likely to increase [4]. This was illustrated by a recent French study in which 54 of 9847 CoNS isolates were identified as S. pettenkoferi after implementation of MALDI-TOF MS, compared to 0 of 7885 CoNS isolates during a previous time period when phenotypic methods of identification were used [5]. The aim of the present study was to characterize clinical and environmental S. pettenkoferi isolates with regards to diversity and antibiotic susceptibility pattern
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