title: Identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from burn patients by multiplex PCR.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) as important human pathogens are causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. Burn patients are at a higher risk of local and systemic infections with these microorganisms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A screening method for MRSA by using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), mecA, and nuc genes was developed. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of this PCR assay for the detection of MRSA strains in samples from burn patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  During an 11-month period, 230 isolates (53.11%) of Staphylococcus spp. were collected from burn patients. The isolates were identified as S. aureus by using standard culture and biochemical tests. DNA was extracted from bacterial colonies and multiplex PCR was used to detect MRSA and MRCoNS strains.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the staphylococci isolates, 149 (64.9%) were identified as S. aureus and 81 (35.21%) were described as CoNS. Among the latter, 51 (62.97%) were reported to be MRCoNS. From the total S. aureus isolates, 132 (88.6%) were detected as MRSA and 17 (11.4%) were methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA). The presence of the mecA gene in all isolates was confirmed by using multiplex PCR as a gold standard method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study presented a high MRSA rate in the region under investigation. The 16S rRNA-mecA-nuc multiplex PCR is a good tool for the rapid characterization of MRSA strains. This paper emphasizes the need for preventive measures and choosing effective antimicrobials against MRSA and MRCoNS infections in the burn units.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Effat Abbasi
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Montazeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran. Electronic address: azarkhosravi69@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Azar Dokht
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Khosravi
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jolodar
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mozhgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghaderpanah
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Samireh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azarpira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease / Q000235:genetics; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus; C074002:nuc protein, staphylococcus; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease
keywords: Burn patients; Methicillin resistance; Multiplex PCR; Staphylococcus aureus