DETECTION OF COMMUNITY ACQUIRED METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

Author(s): Omar B Ahmed* and Atif H Asghar

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is considered to have emerged from S. aureus through the acquisition of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), which carries the mecA gene for methicillin resistance. Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains carry one of SCCmec types (IV or V). In addition they carry Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of CA-MRSA in Makkah hospitals by detection mecA, SCCmec types (IV and V) and PVL genes. One hundred bacterial isolates were confirmed to carry mecA gene. CA-MRSA was detected in 44% of these MRSA isolates, 30% were SCCmec type IV; 14% were SCCmec type V and 21% were harbored the PVL gene. Molecular methods are useful for diagnosis and typing of MRSA pathogens. CA-MRSA was found to be high in Makkah hospitals and hence the infection-control guidelines for of CA-MRSA are necessary to be improved.

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