Characterization of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Gwangju, Korea

ABSTRACT

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important nosocomial pathogens worldwide. This study was performed to investigate the characterization of MRSA isolated from healthy persons in Gwangju area. A total of 404 nasal swab samples was collected during October 2011 and May 2012 in Gwangu, Korea. A survey on MRSA was conducted with meat distributors (n=230), pre-school children (n=108), officers (n=66), respectively. To confirm the MRSA, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the S. aureus specific gene and mecA gene was performed. A total of 34 (8.4%) MRSA isolates was isolated from 404 nasal swab samples 6.1% (14/230) from meat distributors, 16.7% (18/108) from pre-school children, and 3.0% (2/66) from officers samples, respectively. The most prevalent antimicrobial resistance observed in the MRSA isolates was to ampicillin 100% (34/34), followed by penicillin 97.1% (33/34), oxacillin 94.1% (32/34) and erythromycin 52.9% (18/34). All MRSA isolates were then characterized by panton-valentine leukocidin (pvl) gene detected by PCR, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with Sma I digestion. 34 MRSA isolates from nasal carriage were pvl gene negative, SCCmec type IV; 73.5% (25/34), type II; 17.6% (6/34), type III; 2.9% (1/34), and untypable; 5.9% (2/34), respectively. 34 MRSA isolates showed 16 PFGE patterns. These results indicated that isolation rates of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) from healthy persons were low (8.4%), but continuous surveillance and monitoring should be performed to prevent the spread of MRSA in the community.