Investigation of Fibronectin Binding Protein (FBP) and Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) Viulance Factors in Clinical Methicillin Sensitive and Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Strains.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the frequency of fibronectin binding protein (FBP), which is part of the first step of adhesion, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin, which contributes to the destruction of host leukocytes and tissue necrosis, in clinical S. aureus strains. One hundred S. aureus strains were included in the study and distributed as follows; 33 from skinwound swabs and catheter tips (SWCT), 33 from body fluid and secretion specimens (BSFS) such as tracheal aspirate, sputum, and pleural effusion fluid, 18 from tissue biopsy specimens (TBS), 10 specimens from blood, and related specimens (BRS) such as bone marrow, and cerebral spinal fluid, and six specimens from mucosal membrane of pharynx, nose, and vagina (MMS). Methicillin resistance was tested by disk diffusion method. mecA (methicillin resistance coded gene), pvl and fnbA genes were investigated by using a PCR method. Thirty-seven strains (37.0%) were identified as methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 63 (63.0%) as methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) strains. fnbA was more frequent in S. aureus isolates of MMSs (100.0%); followed by BRSs (80.0%), SWCTs (78.8%), TBS (72.3%), and BSFs (66.7%), whereas pvl gene was more frequent in isolates of BRS (60.0%), followed by TBSs (50.0%), SWCTs (33.4%), BSFs (30.3%), and MMSs (16.7%). fnbA existed in 85.7% of MSSA and 56.8% of MRSA in contrast to pvl, which was more frequent in MRSA (70.3%) than those of MSSA strains (17.4%). These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Our different clinical specimens contained a high rate of fnbA (75.0%) and low-moderate frequency of pvl (37.0%). fnbA was most frequent in S. aureus of MMSs, followed by BRSs, and SWCTs, whereas pvl was ex-isted in high proportion in S. aureus of BRSs, followed by TBSs, and SWCTs. Presence of PVL in a high proportion in MRSA strains of superfical specimens such SWCT (24.4%) and deeper serious specimens such as BRS (16.3%) compared to MSSA strains from the same specimens, 3.2% and 0%, respectively, have shown that MRSA infections still threatens patients' lives and control of their spread is urgently needed.