A seasonal study of the mecA gene and Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant S. aureus in a municipal wastewater treatment plant

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) 2009-03, Vol.43 (4), p.925-932
• Main Authors: Börjesson, Stefan, Melin, Sara, Matussek, Andreas, Lindgren, Per-Eric
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: antibiotic resistance; Applied sciences; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Exact sciences and technology; genes; Humans; LUX (TM) real-time PCR; LUX™ real-time PCR; mecA; MEDICIN; MEDICINE; methicillin; Methicillin Resistance - genetics; Methicillin-resistant; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; microbial genetics; Other industrial wastes. Sewage sludge; Penicillin-Binding Proteins; Pollution; polymerase chain reaction; prevalence; Seasonal study; seasonal variation; Seasons; spa Typing; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Sweden; Urban Health; Waste Disposal, Fluid - standards; Wastes; wastewater treatment; Wastewater treatment plant; Water Microbiology; Water treatment and pollution
• ISSN: 0043-1354; 1879-2448; 1879-2448
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2008.11.036

The spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), in which the mecA gene mediates resistance, threatens the treatment of staphylococcal diseases. The aims were to determine the effect of wastewater treatment processes on mecA gene concentrations, and the prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA over time. To achieve this a municipal wastewater treatment plant was investigated for the mecA gene, S. aureus and MRSA, using real-time PCR assays. Water samples were collected monthly for one year, at eight sites in the plant, reflecting different aspects of the treatment process. The mecA gene and S. aureus could be detected throughout the year at all sampling sites. MRSA could also be detected, but mainly in the early treatment steps. The presence of MRSA was verified through cultivation from inlet water. The concentration of the mecA gene varied between months and sampling sites, but no obvious seasonal variation could be determined. The wastewater treatment process reduced the mecA gene concentration in most months. Taken together our results show that the mecA gene, S. aureus and MRSA occur over the year at all sites investigated.