title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the environment of public transport: data from the metropolitan network in Lyon, France.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is involved in community-acquired and nosocomial diseases. The means of MRSA transmission and dissemination in the community remain uncertain. Studies have shown that public transport systems could be a source of MRSA and may serve as a potential source for community-acquired MRSA infections. This study aimed to investigate MRSA contamination on Lyon's metropolitan network (Métro) in France. Hand-touched surfaces were sampled with sterile swabs (Transystem(®)) during a 1-day transversal study by collecting 50 samples in seven hub stations and two trains for each of the four Métro lines. Then, during a longitudinal study, one sample was collected twice daily for 30 consecutive days in the busiest and most congested hub station. All swabs were incubated in enrichment medium for 24 h and then each suspension was plated onto a chromogenic selective medium for MRSA. After 24 h at 36 °C, all presumptive MRSA colonies were tested using VITEK(®) MS to confirm identification as S. aureus as well as by Alere™ PBP2a Culture Colony Test and mecA/mecC PCR to check methicillin resistance. Of the 110 swabs tested, 24 presumptive MRSA colonies were isolated, of which 2 were confirmed as S. aureus by VITEK(®) MS. These two isolates were tested negative using the PBP2a Culture Colony Test and PCR. Unlike other foreign cities such as Lisbon, the current data suggest a low level of MRSA contamination of hand-touched surfaces on Lyon's Métro. This should be put in perspective with the low level of MRSA colonisation in the French community.
authors: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal Infections, University of Lyon 1, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Northern Hospital Group, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, Lyon 69004, France. Electronic address: alexandre.gaymard@chu-lyon.fr.
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Gaymard
authors: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal Infections, University of Lyon 1, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Northern Hospital Group, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, Lyon 69004, France.
authors: Maxime
authors: M
authors: Pichon
authors: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal Infections, University of Lyon 1, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Northern Hospital Group, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, Lyon 69004, France.
authors: Michaël
authors: M
authors: Degaud
authors: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal Infections, University of Lyon 1, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Northern Hospital Group, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, Lyon 69004, France.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Tasse
authors: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal Infections, University of Lyon 1, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Northern Hospital Group, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, Lyon 69004, France.
authors: Céline
authors: C
authors: Dupieux
authors: Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, INSERM U1111, Pathogenesis of Staphylococcal Infections, University of Lyon 1, France; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Northern Hospital Group, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix Rousse, Lyon 69004, France.
authors: Frédéric
authors: F
authors: Laurent
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013048:Specimen Handling; D000072436:Transportation Facilities
keywords: Community-acquired infection; Environmental contamination; MRSA; Metropolitan; Public transport; Staphylococcus aureus