title: Detection by polymerase chain reaction of genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates of epidemic phage types. Belgian Study Group of Hospital Infections (GDEPIH/GOSPIZ).
abstract: The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the aacA-aphD, aphA3 and aadC genes, encoding the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes AAC(6')-APH(2"), APH(3')III and ANT(4'4"), respectively, and the methicillin resistance determinant mecA, in epidemic aminoglycoside and methicillin-resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. In total, 37 isolates collected in the period 1980-1985 and 81 isolates from the period 1991-1992 were obtained from 10 different Belgian hospitals. Epidemic isolates from the earlier period were characterised by phage type C (6/47/54/75) of phage group III, whereas two other epidemic phage types of group III-types A (77) and B (47/54/75/77/84/85)--were commonest in isolates from the second period. The bifunctional AAC(6')-APH(2") was the enzyme encountered most frequently. The prevalence of APH(3')III decreased significantly in the 1991-1992 period, while ANT(4',4") was found solely in isolates from this period. Resistance mechanisms were more complex in isolates from the 1991-1992 period and the mecA gene was detected in all isolates. The PCR results corresponded well with those obtained in the radiochemical phosphocellulose paper binding assay. Isolates from the 1991-1992 period were shown to express significantly higher levels of acetyltransferase activity than isolates from the 1980s.
authors.affiliation: Pasteur Institute of Brabant, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vanhoof
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Godard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Content
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nyssen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hannecart-Pokorni
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation; D000123:Acetyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D001483:Base Sequence; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010770:Phosphotransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D014166:Transferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017931:DNA Primers; D014166:Transferases; D000123:Acetyltransferases; D010770:Phosphotransferases; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases