Characterisation of virulence genes in methicillin susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a paediatric population in a university hospital of Medellín, Colombia

Virulence and antibiotic resistance are significant determinants of the types of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and paediatric groups remain among the most commonly affected populations. The goal of this study was to characterise virulence genes of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA...

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Published in:Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 2011-12, Vol.106 (8), p.980-985
Main Authors: Jiménez, Judy Natalia, Ocampo, Ana María, Vanegas, Johanna Marcela, Rodríguez, Erika Andrea, Garcés, Carlos Guillermo, Patiño, Luz Adriana, Ospina, Sigifredo, Correa, Margarita María
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Child
Child, Preschool
Colombia
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hospitals, University
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - pathogenicity
MRSA
MSSA
PARASITOLOGY
Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology
Staphylococcus aureus
TROPICAL MEDICINE
virulence factors
Virulence Factors - genetics
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Summary:Virulence and antibiotic resistance are significant determinants of the types of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and paediatric groups remain among the most commonly affected populations. The goal of this study was to characterise virulence genes of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from a paediatric population of a Colombian University Hospital during 2009. Sixty MSSA and MRSA isolates were obtained from paediatric patients between zero-14 years. We identified the genes encoding virulence factors, which included Panton-Valentine leucocidine (PVL), staphylococcal enterotoxins A-E, exfoliative toxins A and B and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1. Typing of the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) was performed in MRSA strains. The virulence genes were more diverse and frequent in MSSA than in MRSA isolates (83% vs. 73%). MRSA strains harboured SCCmec types IVc (60%), I (30%), IVa (7%) and V (3%). SCCmec type IVc isolates frequently carried the PVL encoding genes and harboured virulence determinants resembling susceptible strains while SCCmec type I isolates were often negative. PVL was not exclusive to skin and soft tissue infections. As previously suggested, these differences in the distribution of virulence factor genes may be due to the fitness cost associated with methicillin resistance.
ISSN:0074-0276
1678-8060
1678-8060
0074-0276
DOI:10.1590/S0074-02762011000800013