title: High prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with SCCmec type III in cystic fibrosis patients in southern, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial colonization of the lungs is the main cause of morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF). Pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus are very well adapted to the pulmonary environment and may persist for years in the same patient. Genetic determinants of these bacteria, such as the presence of SCCmec have recently emerged as a problem in this population of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Staphylococcus aureus isolates obtained from different clinical materials coming from CF and non-CF patients attended at a cystic fibrosis reference hospital were compared according to SCCmec type and antibiotic susceptibility profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and sixty-four single-patient Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected, of which 164 (45%) were from CF patients. Among the latter, 57/164 (44.5%) were MRSA, and among the non-CF patients, 89/200 (35%) were MRSA. Associated pathogens were found in 38 CF patients. All 57 MRSA from CF patients harbored the multiresistant cassette type III. In contrast, 31/89 MRSA from non-CF patients harbored SCCmec type I (35%) and 44/89 harbored type III (49%). The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was similar between CF and non-CF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of multiresistant SCCmec type III among CF patients compared with non-CF patients in our institution may make it difficult to control disease progression through antibiotic therapy for promoting the survival of this kind of patient.
authors.affiliation: Medical Sciences Post-graduate Program, Medicine School, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. kelir@ufcspa.edu.br
authors.forename: Keli Cristine
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Alice Beatriz Mombach Pinheiro
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia Peixoto de
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Afonso Luís
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Barth
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents