High prevalence of multi-drug resistant and different SCCmec types among coagulase-negative Staphylococci spp. collected from clinical samples and skin of healthcare workers in Kerman, Southeast Iran

• Published in: Gene reports 2022-03, Vol.26, p.101428, Article 101428
• Main Authors: Kalantar-Neyestanaki, Davood, Mansouri, Shala, Tadjrobehkar, Omid, Pardakhty, Abbas, Tabatabaeifar, Fatemehalsadat, Morones-Ramírez, José Rubén, Jamali, Zahra, Isaei, Elham
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibiotic resistance; Coagulase-negative Staphylococci; Molecular typing; Resistance genes
• ISSN: 2452-0144; 2452-0144
• DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101428

Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are an important reservoir of resistance genes. Due to the important role of CoNS in the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes, increasing knowledge about the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in this bacterium has an important role in controlling infection and preventing the spread of resistance genes in hospital settings. The aim of this study was to determine drug resistance profiles and antibiotic resistance mechanisms in CoNS strains isolated from clinical samples and the skins of healthcare workers in Kerman, Iran. Out of 114 CoNS isolates, 77% (n=88), 17% (n=19), 5% (n=6), and 1% (n=1) were S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, and S. saprophyticus, respectively. Two percent (n=2) of isolates were resistant to vancomycin and 14% (n=16) had reduced susceptibility to vancomycin. Also, various resistance genes including mecA, erm, tet, and aminoglycosides modified enzyme (AMEs) genes were detected. In total, SCCmec types IV(37%), III(24%), II(7%), I(5%), and I + III (5%) were detected in isolates. Our findings show that healthcare workers are likely to play an important role in the spread of resistant strains in hospital settings. Therefore, we need further monitoring of healthcare workers to prevent the spread and transmission of resistant CoNS isolates in hospital settings. •High prevalence of MDR and MR-CoNS isolates in high-risk units such as NICU, ICU, and PICU, in Kerman, Iran•High diversity of antibiotic resistance patterns among CoNS isolates from hand of healthcare workers.•Healthcare workers are presumably have an important role in the spread of MDR CoNS isolates in the hospital setting.•Spread of various types of SCCmec in clinical and healthcare workers' isolates of CoNS