MRSA SCCmec epidemiology in Israel: development and implementation of an MRSA SCCmec typing strategy

The Prevalence, Epidemiological, and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Macau (2017-2022)

Macau, recognized as a global tourism hub and the world's most densely populated region, provides a unique environment conducive to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission in healthcare and community settings, posing a significant public health concern both locally and globally. The epidemiology and molecular characteristics of MRSA in the distinct city of Macau remain largely unelucidated. This five-year longitudinal study (2017-2022) examined the local prevalence and molecular typing of MRSA in Macau, with future MRSA type distribution predicted through ARIMA modeling. We subsequently analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of MRSA, including specimen source, clinical department, collection year, season, patient age, sex, and the annual number of tourists. Comprehensive antibiotic resistance profiles of the strains were also assessed. Of 504 clinically isolated S. aureus strains, 183 (36.3%) were identified as MRSA by the cefoxitin disk diffusion method and validated through multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The MRSA detection rate showed an upward trend, increasing from 30.1% in 2017 to 45.7% in 2022. SCCmec type IV was predominant (28.9%), followed by types II (25.4%), III (22.1%), and V (22.1%). The primary sources of MRSA isolates were sputum (39.2%) and secretions (25.6%). Older age emerged as a risk factor for MRSA infection, whereas no significant associations were found with seasonal variations, gender, or the annual number of tourists. Despite displaying universal resistance to cefoxitin, oxacillin, and benzylpenicillin, MRSA isolates in Macau remained fully sensitive to vancomycin, tigecycline, quinupristin, nitrofurantoin, and linezolid. Continuous surveillance and analysis of MRSA distribution in Macau could provide invaluable insights for the effective management of MRSA prevention and control measures within healthcare settings.

Hospital Dissemination of tst-1-Positive Clonal Complex 5 (CC5) Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is one of the most prevalent clinical pathogens isolated from hospital settings, and has increasingly identified in community settings. In China, the SCCmecIII-ST239 strains are disseminated in different geographic regions, accounting for >75% of all MRSA isolates in some national studies. Here we characterized 150 non-duplicate MRSA isolates collected from February 2012 to May 2013 in a tertiary hospital in Suzhou, Eastern China, to explore the molecular epidemiology. All isolates were characterized by spa typing, SCCmec typing, and detection of genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1). Representative genotypes were also subjected to multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using BD Phoenix™ Automated Microbiology System. Molecular typing identified 11 clonal complex (CC) and 28 spa types, with the CC5-spa t002 (29.3%) and CC239-spa t037 (14.7%) being the most prevalent. SCCmec types II, III, IV, and V were identified in 33.3, 21.3, 23.3, and 21.3% of all isolates, respectively. PVL genes (lukF/S-PV) were detected in 11.3% of all isolates and from 6 CCs (5, 8, 59, 88, 239, and 398). The TSST-1 gene (tst) was detected in 18.0% of the all isolates, predominantly in CC5 (96.3%). All the tst-1-positve CC5 isolates were spa t002. Eighteen patients died within 30 days of hospitalization, and the in-hospital 30-day mortality was 12.0%. Multivariable analysis showed that 60 years old (odds ratio [OR] = 7.2, P = 0.026), cancer diagnosis (OR = 9.6, P = 0.022), and MRSA isolate carriage of tst-1 (OR = 62.5, P < 0.001) were independent factors associated with 30-day mortality. Our study revealed unique MRSA dissemination patterns in our hospital in comparison to those of other regions in China. The finding that tst-1-positive CC5 strains were associated with higher mortality highlights the need for strict infection control measures in order to prevent further spread of these strains in our hospital, as well as others.

MRSA clonal complex 22 strains harboring toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) are endemic in the primary hospital in Gaza, Palestine

Background

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen in both community and healthcare-related settings worldwide. Current knowledge regarding the epidemiology of S. aureus and MRSA in Gaza is based on a single community-based carriage study. Here we describe a cross-sectional analysis of 215 clinical isolates collected from Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza during 2008 and 2012.

Methods

All isolates were characterized by spa typing, SCCmec typing, and detection of genes encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1). Representative genotypes were also subjected to multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using VITEK2 and MicroScan.

Results

MRSA represented 56.3% of all S. aureus strains, and increased in frequency from 2008 (54.8%) to 2012 (58.4%). Aside from beta-lactams, resistance was observed to tetracycline, erythromycin, clindamycin, gentamicin, and fluoroquinolones. Molecular typing identified 35 spa types representing 17 MLST clonal complexes (CC), with spa 998 (Ridom t223, CC22) and spa 70 (Ridom t044, CC80) being the most prevalent. SCCmec types I, III, IV, V and VI were identified among MRSA isolates, while type II was not detected. PVL genes (lukF/S-PV) were detected in 40.0% of all isolates, while the TSST-1 gene (tst) was detected in 27.4% of all isolates, with surprisingly high frequency within CC22 (70.4%). Both PVL and TSST-1 genes were found in several isolates from 2012.

Conclusions

Molecular typing of clinical isolates from Gaza hospitals revealed unusually high prevalence of TSST-1 genes among CC22 MRSA, which is noteworthy given a recent community study describing widespread carriage of a CC22 MRSA clone known as the ‘Gaza strain’. While the latter did not address TSST-1, tst-positive spa 998 (Ridom t223) has been detected in several neighboring countries, and described as endemic in an Italian NICU, suggesting international spread of a ‘Middle Eastern variant’ of pandemic CC22 strain EMRSA-15.

Enhanced multiplex PCR assay for typing of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types I to V in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We previously published a simple multiplex PCR assay for quick-screening of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) types I-V, which has been extensively used worldwide. An updated assay is described here and the changes serve to make this rapid assay more accurate and reliable in facilitating identification of most common and major SCCmec types.

Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Israel: dissemination of global clones and unique features

From 2006 to 2009, 315 clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates were collected from 5 hospitals across Israel. Most isolates (64%) were related to the global clones spa types t001-SCCmec-I (SCCmec-I stands for staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type I) (n = 99; 31%), t002-SCCmec-II (n = 82; 26%), and t008-SCCmec-IV (n = 21; 7%), five of which were identified as MRSA strain USA-300. Seventeen strains unique to Israel were identified. SCCmec types IV and V were common among hospital-acquired isolates.