title: Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Transmitted between Patients with Buruli Ulcer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The wounds of most BU patients are colonized with different microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study investigated possible patient-to-patient transmission events of S. aureus during wound care in a health care center. S. aureus isolates from different BU patients with overlapping visits to the clinic were whole-genome sequenced and analyzed by a gene-by-gene approach using SeqSphere(+) software. In addition, sequence data were screened for the presence of genes that conferred antibiotic resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SeqSphere(+) analysis of whole-genome sequence data confirmed transmission of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible S. aureus among patients that took place during wound care. Interestingly, our sequence data show that the investigated MRSA isolates carry a novel allele of the fexB gene conferring chloramphenicol resistance, which had thus far not been observed in S. aureus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Nana Ama
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Amissah
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monika A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Chlebowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ablordey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Artur J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Sabat
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Caitlin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Tetteh
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prah
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tjip S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: van der Werf
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alex W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan Maarten
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Dijl
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Rossen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ymkje
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Stienstra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000150:complications*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial