ABSTRACT
The coagulase-negative bacterium Staphylococcus condimenti and closely related species are commonly isolated from or found in starter cultures of fermented sausage as well as fish and soy sauces, and have traditionally been considered nonpathogenic. Recently, however, a case of catheter-related bacteraemia caused by S. condimenti was reported. In the present study we identified and characterized a strain of S. condimenti isolated from a patient with a severe soft tissue infection, comparing it to S. condimenti and S. carnosus type strains in order to elucidate the virulence potential of the clinical strain. Genome comparison showed high degree of conservation between the clinical strain and the type strain used in food industry, as well as with S. carnosus. The genome of the clinical S. condimenti strain contains few horizontally transferred regions and 37 putative virulence genes, including genes with similarity to leucocidin and genes involved in immune evasion, proinflammatory and cytolytic activity. However, it remains to be tested whether these putative virulence genes are expressed and functional. Although uncommon, S. condimenti may cause severe infection in previously healthy persons.
ABSTRACT
A multidrug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone, PVL-positive ST772-MRSA-V, named the Bengal Bay clone, is emerging worldwide. In Norway, where MRSA prevalence is low, a sudden increase in ST772-MRSA-V initiated a nationwide molecular epidemiological study. Clinical data were obtained from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS). S. aureus isolates were characterised by antibiotic susceptibility profiles and comprehensive genotyping (spa typing, MLVA, DNA microarray). ST772-MRSA was detected in 145 individuals during 2004-2014, with 60% of cases occurring in 2013-2014. Median age was 31 years and male/female ratio 1.16. The majority had a family background from the Indian subcontinent (70%). MRSA acquisition was mainly reported as unknown (39%) or abroad (42%), the latter associated with a home-country visit (59%), tourism (16%), and immigration (13%). Clinical infection was present in 75%, predominantly by SSTI (83%), 18% were admitted to hospital and 42% were linked to small-scale outbreaks (n = 25). All isolates were multidrug-resistant. Most isolates were resistant to erythromycin, gentamicin and norfloxacin. Genotyping revealed a conserved clone predominated by spa type t657 (83%), MLVA-type 432 (67%) and the genes lukF/S, sea, sec/sel, egc, scn, cna, ccrAA/ccrC, agrII and cap5. A few untypical ccr gene combinations were detected. Bengal Bay isolates have likely been imported on several occasions and revision of infection control guidelines may prevent further spread.
Subject(s)
Genotype , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/classification , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/isolation & purification , Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology , Staphylococcal Infections/microbiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Middle Aged , Molecular Epidemiology , Molecular Typing , Norway/epidemiology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are a common cause of both sporadic infection and outbreaks of enteric disease in humans. Here, we present draft genome sequences of 11 STEC strains of different serotypes (O145, O121, O26, O177, and O-type unknown), that have been isolated from patients with enteric disease of various degrees of severity, in the years 2001 to 2014 at St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim, Norway.
