title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia, are variants of the Brazilian clone.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to characterise methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from the Republic of Georgia, part of the former Soviet Union. Thirty-two non-duplicate MRSA isolates were collected in the period from May 2006 to February 2007. The patient data were analysed and the isolates were characterised by staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing, staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Only two closely related spa types were found; 29 isolates were of spa type 459 and three were t030. The spa types belonged to sequence type (ST) 239, clonal complex (CC) 8. All isolates were multiresistant, PVL-negative and harboured SCCmec type IIIA. Based on the molecular findings and PFGE, the isolates most closely resembled the pandemic Brazilian clone (ST239-IIIA).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hvidovre Hospital, Kettegaard alle 30, 2650, Hvidovre, Denmark. mette.damkjaer.bartels@hvh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nanuashvili
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boye
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Rohde
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jashiashvili
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kereselidze
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kharebava
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Westh
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D002999:Clone Cells; D005846:Georgia (Republic); D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D008712:Methicillin