title: Comparison of HRM analysis and three REP-PCR genomic fingerprint methods for rapid typing of MRSA at a Brazilian hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria are increasingly common and represent a serious problem for public health. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major agents of infections, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) has spread worldwide. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically characterize 55 MRSAs isolated in the University Hospital of Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, during 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bacterial isolates were characterized based on their antimicrobial susceptibility profile, biofilm production capacity, and staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) type. Determination of clonal groups was performed by polymerase chain reaction using the RW3A, JB1, and BOX A1R primers and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of isolates harbored SCCmec type II. SCCmec III, characteristic of the Brazilian endemic clone, was observed in four strains. Only two isolates harbored SCCmec type IV, which is common in community-acquired MRSA strains. Most isolates also showed resistance to more than four of the tested antimicrobials, and 30 isolates exhibited the ability to produce biofilm. DNA polymorphism analysis showed a higher discriminatory power for the JB1 primer, but RW3A revealed several clonal groups of MRSA with similar genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. HRM analysis showed eight different sequence types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are important for epidemiological studies involving MRSA infections.
authors.affiliation: Biological Sciences Center, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Brazil. gibodnar@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovana Carolina
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bodnar
authors.forename: Heloísa Moreira
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Caio Ferreira
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: De Oliveira
authors.forename: Alexandre Tadachi
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Morey
authors.forename: Eliandro Reis
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Juscélio Donizete
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Marcia Regina Eches
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Perugini
authors.forename: Lucy Megumi Yamauchi
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lioni
authors.forename: Sueli Fumie
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yamada-Ogatta
authors.forename: Renata Katsuko Takayama
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Gerson
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nakazato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000379:methods*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D058889:Molecular Typing / Q000379:methods*; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D044366:Transition Temperature; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial