title: The occurrence and dissemination of methicillin and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus in samples from patients and health professionals of a university hospital in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have been responsible for many nosocomial outbreaks. Within hospitals, colonized employees often act as reservoirs for the spread of this organism. This study collected clinical samples of 91 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), hemodialysis/nephrology service and surgical clinic, and biological samples from the nasal cavities of 120 professionals working in those environments, of a University Hospital in Recife, in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The main objective of this study was to determine the occurrence and dissemination of methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus spp.
  
  
  METHODS
  The isolates obtained were tested for susceptibility to oxacillin and vancomycin and detection of the mecA gene. In addition, the isolates were evaluated for the presence of clones by ribotyping-polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MRSA occurrence, as detected by the presence of the mecA gene, was more prevalent among nursing technicians; 48.1% (13/27) and 40.7% (11/27) of the isolates were from health professionals of the surgical clinic. In patients, the most frequent occurrence of mecA-positive isolates was among the samples from catheter tips (33.3%; 3/9), obtained mostly from the hemodialysis/nephrology service. Eight vancomycin-resistant strains were found among the MRSA isolates through vancomycin screening. Based on the amplification patterns, 17 ribotypes were identified, with some distributed between patients and professionals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the great diversity of clones, which makes it difficult to trace the source of the infection, knowledge of the molecular and phenotypic profiles of Staphylococcus samples can contribute towards guiding therapeutic approaches in the treatment and control of nosocomial infections.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcelle Aquino
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rabelo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Armando Monteiro
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bezerra Neto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Stéfany Ojaimi
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Loibman
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jailton Lobo da Costa
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Biológicas (Microbiologia), Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ewerton Lucena
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nilma Cintra
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Leal
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Amélia Vieira
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Maciel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001938:Brazil; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D021521:Ribotyping; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus; D014640:Vancomycin; D010068:Oxacillin