title: Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) and arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from prosthetic joint infections.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to characterise the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and, if possible, assign them to any of the presently known SCCmec types. In addition, the isolates were examined for the presence of the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME). Sixty-one S. epidermidis isolates obtained from PJIs and 24 commensal S. epidermidis isolates were analysed. The mecA gene was detected in 49 of the 61 (80 %) PJI isolates and in four of the 24 (17 %) commensal isolates, and the composition of the SCCmec was further analysed. SCCmec types I and IV were the most common types among the PJI isolates. However, for over half (57 %) of the isolates, it was not possible to assign an SCCmec type. ACME was detected in eight (13 %) of the PJI isolates and in 14 (58 %) of the commensal isolates. The characterisation of the SCCmec elements revealed a large heterogeneity, with a high frequency of isolates carrying more than one type of the ccr gene complex. ACME was more common among the commensal isolates and may represent a survival benefit for S. epidermidis colonising healthy individuals in the community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Microbiology, Örebro University Hospital, 701 85 Örebro, Sweden. bengt.hellmark@orebroll.se
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hellmark
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Berglund
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nilsdotter-Augustinsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unemo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Söderquist
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D020071:Interspersed Repetitive Sequences; D007595:Joint Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus