Staphylococcus aureus isolated from clinical sources in the Wakayama area; phage type, prophage type and drug sensitivity

Abstract

Two hundred fifteen strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from clinical sources in the Waka yama area from 1967 to 1970. Phage typing and drug sensitivity test were carried out. One hundred thirty four phage lysates were obtained by ultraviolet irradiation and plaqueformation of each lysate was checked with the propagating strains of the International Typing Phage. Cross lysis was examined among the phage lysates and their induced strains. Results are as follows:1) 80, 81 complex strains which are known as “epidemic strains” were isolated from many hospitals and medical offices and occupied an overwhelming majority (81%) of typable strains in the surgery hospitals.2) Eighty five (63%) of 134 strains were lysogenic (phage lysates lyzed one or more of the standard propagating strains).Thirty six (73%) of 49 strains (80, 81 complex) and 14 (26%) of 54 strains (untypable) belonged to prophage type 80/81. Almost all of these strains were resistant to multiple drugs.4) At present, a few kanamycin resistant strains were isolated from otorhinological clinics: only and almost all were untypable.5) The results of cross lysis among the phage lysates (prophage type 80/81) and their induced strains (80, 81 complex and untypable) were fairly similar to several investigators' reports. Namely, these phages could be divided into some related phages according to the host range and some phages were akin to N. C. T. C. typing phage 81.6) In this study, it is suggested that the proprieties of recipient were influenced by the phage type and their lysogenicity. For instance, non-lysogenic strains (in respect of the prophage type 80/81) were most competent within the phage type 80/81 strains.