Identification of Class I Integrons Gene in Staphylococcus Strains Isolated from Clinical Samples

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance is a major contemporary public health threat. Strategies to contain antimicrobial resistance have been comprehensively set forth, however in developing countries where the need for effective antimicrobials is greatest implementation has proved problematic. Staphylococcus is an important Nasocomial infectious agent which is notorious for rapidly gaining antimicrobial resistance genes. Integrons are a series of mobile genetic elements that are able to express gene cassettes encoding various antibiotic resistances. This study aimed to identify integron class I gene cassettes in clinical Staphylococcus isolates recovered from patients in Sanandaj, Iran hospitals. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 Staphylococci spp. was recovered from nose and throat swabs of patients (ICU and infection wards) in Toohid and Beasat hospitals in Sanandaj, Iran. Following bacterial DNA extraction, Class I Integron gene was detected by PCR. Results: Out of the 200 Staphylococci spp. , 81 (40.5%) isolates were carriers of class I integron . The integron expressing isolates included 35 cases (23.5%) of Staphylococcus epidermidis, 37 cases (40.1%) of Staphylococcus aureus, and 9 cases (36%) of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Conclusion: Results indicated that frequency of class I integron gene is quite high among clinical Staphylococcus isolates in Sanandaj area. For control of antibiotic resistance spread, screening of clinical samples for these genes and elucidation of their genetic diversity is crucial.