Absence of the mecA Gene in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Different Clinical Specimens in Shendi City, Sudan.
Absolute dependence on mecA gene as the defining standard in determining the resistance of S. aureus to methicillin became the subject of distrust by many researchers. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of mecA gene in methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates using polymerase chain reaction and to correlate its presence to conventional method. In this regard, two hundred S. aureus isolates were collected from patients with different diseases attending different hospitals in Shandi City, Sudan. Phenotypic Kirby-Bauer method confirmed the existence of methicillin resistant S. aureus in 61.5% of the subjected isolates with MICs ranging from 4 μg/mL to 256 μg/mL when using E-test. However, when amplifying a 310 bp fragment of the mecA gene by PCR, twelve out of the 123 MRSA isolates (9.8%) were mecA negative, whereas all the 77 methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) were mecA negative. In conclusion, this study drew attention to the credibility of the mecA gene and its usefulness in the detection of all MRSA strains without referring to the traditional methods. Hence, it is highly recommended to consider alternative mechanisms for β-lactam resistance that may compete with mecA gene in the emergence of MRSA phenomenon in the community.
Department of Med. Laboratory Tech., College of Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Microbiology, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
Mogahid M
MM
Elhassan
Department of Med. Laboratory Tech., College of Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Hani A
HA
Ozbak
Department of Med. Laboratory Tech., College of Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia.
Hassan A
HA
Hemeg
Department of Med. Laboratory Tech., College of Applied Medical Science, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia ; Department of Microbiology, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
Miskelyemen A
MA
Elmekki
Department of Microbiology, College of Medical Laboratory Science, Shendi University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Leila M
LM
Ahmed
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D013397:Sudan / Q000453:epidemiology
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus