title: High clonal heterogeneity of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from skin and soft-tissue infections in the Province of Bolzano, Northern Italy.
abstract: Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) isolates are widespread in many countries, with varying distribution and epidemiology. The aim of this study was to characterise 10 PVL-positive MRSA isolates collected during February 2010 to January 2011 from skin and soft-tissue infections in the North Italian Province of Bolzano. Accessory gene regulator (agr) typing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, staphylococcal protein A (spa) gene typing, multilocus sequence typing, toxin gene profiling, polymerase chain reaction for type I arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and antimicrobial resistance typing were applied to the isolates. Eight different CA-MRSA clones were identified, including ST30-IVc, ST772-V, ST80-IVc, ST5-IVc, ST88-IVa, ST93-IVa, ST8-IVc and the type I ACME-positive ST8-IVa. The high heterogeneity of PVL-positive MRSA probably reflects the introduction of different clones by international travellers or immigrants.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio Aziendale di Microbiologia e Virologia, Comprensorio Sanitario di Bolzano, Italy. richard.aschbacher@asbz.it
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aschbacher
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spoladore
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Innocenti
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moroder
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ganner
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.forename: Oswald
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ganthaler
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pagani
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Larcher
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kearns
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin