A Study of mecA and femA of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Strains Isolated from Clinical Specimens.
- Author:
Hee Joo LEE
1
;
Young Sic KIM
;
Ji Soo KIM
;
Young Hyun CHO
;
Kwang Gil LEE
;
Jin Tae SUH
;
Sung Ho CHA
Author Information
1. Department of Clinical Pathology, Kyung Hee University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus;
mecA;
femA;
Antimicrobial susceptibility test
- MeSH:
Clindamycin;
Colon;
Cross Infection;
Diffusion;
Erythromycin;
Humans;
Korea;
Mass Screening;
Methicillin Resistance*;
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus*;
Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Pneumonia;
Sepsis;
Staphylococcus aureus;
Vancomycin;
Wound Infection
- From:Korean Journal of Clinical Pathology
2001;21(1):45-48
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Methiciliin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of nosocomial infection worldwide. Serious infection caused by MRSA include wound infections, pneumonia, and septicemia. For its resistance rate being very high in Korea, its rapid and accurate detection as well as management and treatment of both colonized and infected patient has been a paramount importance to us. The traditional detection of MRSA requires isolation on solid media followed by screening tests for resistance and it takes 3 to 4 days. The purpose of this study is to detect mecA and femA gene of MRSA by multiplex PCR in clinical isolates of MRSA. METHODS: A total of 84 strains of MRSA were isolated from various clinical specimens and tested for mecA and femA gene and antimicrobial susceptibility tests which were done by disk diffusion method. S. aureus ATCC 25923 was used as a negative control. RESULTS: Of the 84 strains of MRSA, detection rate of mecA and femA genes were 84/84 (100%) and 82/84 (97.6%), respectively. Resistance rate to erythromycin and clindamycin were 100% and 91.9% respectively. There were no resistant strain to vancomycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. CONCLUSIONS: The multiplex PCR for the detection of mecA and femA gene could be used as a tool for rapid detection of MRSA. The study revealed that all of the MRSA studied were positive for mecA gene. The resistance rate to erythromycin and clindamycin of MRSA was very high. All of the strains tested were susceptible to vancomycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.
