title: Isolation and molecular characterization of Staphylococcus sciuri in the hospital environment.
abstract: Staphylococcus sciuri is a principally animal-associated bacterial species, but its clinical relevance for humans is increasing. Our study aimed to provide the first insight into the prevalence of this bacterium in a hospital environment. A 3-month surveillance was conducted in a hospital located in Belgrade, Serbia, and 1,028 samples taken from hands of medical personnel, medical devices, and various hospital surfaces were screened for S. sciuri presence. In total, 108 isolates were obtained, which resulted in a relatively high rate of colonization (10.5%). These isolates, along with 7 S. sciuri strains previously isolated in the same hospital (n = 115), were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that 73% of the strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics, with 4.3% strains displaying multiresistance. Examination of 16S-23S ribosomal DNA intergenic spacer length polymorphism identified the strains at the subspecies level, and 74 (64.3%) strains of S. sciuri subsp. sciuri, 37 (32.2%) strains of S. sciuri subsp. rodentium, and 4 (3.5%) strains of S. sciuri subsp. carnaticus were established. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed 21 distinct pulsotypes, including 17 main types and 4 subtypes. One dominant cluster with 62 strains was found, while 19 (90.5%) of the PFGE types and subtypes identified had 5 or fewer strains. The predominance of small PFGE clusters suggests that the ubiquitous presence of S. sciuri in the outside environment presents the continuous source for colonization of the hospital environment. The presence of one dominant PFGE cluster of strains indicates that some S. sciuri strains may be capable for adaptation to hospital environment conditions and continuous existence in this environment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Dr. Subotića 1, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dakić
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: Dragana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vuković
authors.forename: Branislava
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Savić
authors.forename: Adebayo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shittu
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jezek
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hauschild
authors.forename: Srdjan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stepanović
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000032:analysis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009726:Nurses; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000235:genetics; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013499:Surface Properties; D015022:Yugoslavia
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S