title: Analysis of genetic diversity among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with deep-seated and superficial staphylococcal infections using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
abstract: Molecular typing was performed to reveal the genetic diversity among Staphylococcus aureus strains causing deep-seated versus superficial staphylococcal infections. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with cluster analysis, plasmid and antimicrobial susceptibility profiling of 50 S. aureus strains collected from these 2 groups of patients were undertaken. A total of 19 (designated A through S) distinct genotypes were identified by PFGE of Sma I-digested genomic DNA. The most prevalent PFGE type was L, which accounted for 30% of isolates and was detected among superficial isolates only. The second most prevalent PFGE type, type A (18%), was predominant among deep-seated isolates. Remaining PFGE types varied in distribution between the 2 groups. Plasmid profile analysis revealed that deep isolates harbour plasmids more frequently (comprising 64% of isolates) than superficial isolates (4%) and showed 10 and 2 distinct patterns, respectively, with pattern 1 being the dominant among deep isolates. Antimicrobial susceptibility data suggested an increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance among deep isolates with the majority (40%) exhibiting identical antibiograms compared to superficial isolates. No resistance was detected against clindamycin and vancomycin. The results of our study indicate a previously unrecognized dichotomy of S. aureus strains, causing deep-seated and superficial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. akuma@med.wayne.edu
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Pallab
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Mamta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanwar
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: Subhash
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Varma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*