Prevalence of Major Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clones in Korea Between 2001 and 2008

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are important pathogens causing nosocomial infections in Korean hospitals. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and genetic diversity of clinical S. aureus isolates in healthcare settings from 2001 to 2008. METHODS: Samples and data were obtained from 986 individuals as part of the National Antimicrobial Surveillance Project, involving 10 regions nationwide. Molecular typing studies, including multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing were performed, and a representative clone of Korean MRSA was classified by combinational grouping using a DiversiLab (DL; bioMérieux, France) repetitive element polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) system. RESULTS: Nine Korean MRSA clones (KMRSA-1 to -9) were identified by analysis of genetic backgrounds and molecular characteristics. KMRSA-1 to -3, expressing clonal complex (CC) 5 (carrying SCCmec II), CC8 (carrying SCCmec III), and CC72 (carrying SCCmec IV) were spread nationwide. In contrast, KMRSA-6 was highly prevalent in Gyeongsangnam-do, and KMRSA-4 was highly prevalent in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemic KMRSA clones were genetically similar to major clones identified from the USA, with the exception of KMRSA-2, which had the SCCmec III type. Our results provide important insights into the distribution and molecular genetics of MRSA strains in Korea and may aid in the monitoring of MRSA spread throughout the country.

Molecular Typing and Resistance Profiles of Vancomycin-Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in Korea: Results from a National Surveillance Study, 2007-2013 / 대한임상미생물학회지

BACKGROUND: To investigate the national molecular epidemiology and resistance profiles of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA), we analyzed the characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) collected from clinical samples at tertiary or general hospitals participating in a nationwide surveillance program for VISA and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in Korea during an 12-week period in each year from 2007 to 2013. METHODS: VISA was defined by agar dilution, broth dilution and E-test methods with vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentrations of >2 μg/mL. All VISA isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, spa typing, accessory gene regulator typing, Diversilab analysis, and antibiogram analysis. RESULTS: Of 109,345 MRSA isolates, 87,354 were screened and 426 isolates were identified as positive on brain heart infusion agar containing 4 μg/mL vancomycin (BHI-V4). Of 426 isolates, 76 isolates were identified as VISA. No VRSA isolates were detected among the isolates. Overall, a total of 6 genotypes were identified among VISA strains and the predominant clones were ST5-II-t2460, ST72-IV-t324, and ST239-III-t037 (44.7%, 15.8%, and 10.5%, respectively). Of note, ST72-IV-t324 clones are known to be a typical community-associated MRSA. ST239-III-t037 strains were more resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole than any other type of strain. ST72-IV-t324 strains were susceptible to all of the antimicrobial agents tested except erythromycin and daptomycin. All of the VISA isolates were susceptible to linezolid and quinupristin-dalfopristin. CONCLUSION: Although VRSA is still rare, continuous monitoring of VRSA occurrence is needed, as well as VISA prevalence, epidemic clonal shift, and antimicrobial resistance.