Activity of Iron-uptake System of Staphy lococcus aureus According to the Isolation Sites / 감염

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We tried to investigate the activity of iron-uptake system (IUS) of Stap hylococcus aureus according to the isolation sites and thus the relatedness between IUS and virulence. METHODS: Seventy clinical isolates were classified into the isolates from patients (56), from doctors and nurses (7) and from hospital environments (7). The isolates from patients (56) were sub-classified into the isolates from hospitalized patients (40; HP) and from outpatients (16; OP). Siderophore activity was measured CAS agar diffusion assay and transferrin-binding protein (tbp) was detected by receptor-ligand binding assay. RESULTS: There was no difference of siderophore production among the isolates from patients, doctors and nurses, and hospital environments (P>0.05). However, the isolates from patients expressed more tbp than the isolates from doctors and nurses and hospital environments (P<0.05). The isolates from OP produced more siderophore and expressed more tbp than the isolates from HP (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that Staphylococcus aureus with more active IUS is more virulent and more easily causes infection even in patients with relatively good general condition.