Molecular typing of MRSA and of clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Iaşi, Romania.
Romania is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the world. To obtain data on affiliation of MRSA to strains and clonal complexes and on the population of methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), clinical isolates from bloodstream infections, skin and soft tissue infections as well as from screening swabs were collected at hospitals in Ia?i, a city in the North-Eastern part of Romania. Isolates were characterised by microarray hybridisation. Nearly half of all isolates (47%), and about one third (34%) of bloodstream isolates were MRSA. The prevalence of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) was also high (31% among MRSA, 14% among MSSA). The most common MRSA strain was a PVL-negative CC1-MRSA-IV that might have emerged locally, as a related MSSA was also common. PVL-positive CC8-MRSA-IV ("USA300") and PVL-negative ST239-like MRSA-III were also frequently found while other MRSA strains were only sporadically detected. Among MSSA, PVL-positive CC121 as well as PVL-negative CC1, CC22 and CC45 predominated. Although this study provides only a snapshot of S. aureus/MRSA epidemiology in Romania, it confirms the high burden of MRSA and PVL on Romanian healthcare settings.
Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Medizinische Fakultät "Carl Gustav Carus", Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Alere Technologies GmbH, Jena, Germany.
Stefan
S
Monecke
Alere Technologies GmbH, Jena, Germany.
Elke
E
Müller
Microbiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa" Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania.
Olivia Simona
OS
Dorneanu
Microbiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa" Iaşi, Iaşi, Romania.
Teodora
T
Vremeră
Alere Technologies GmbH, Jena, Germany.
Ralf
R
Ehricht
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D058889:Molecular Typing; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
D037521:Virulence Factors