S Bagherzadeh Yazdchi, M.h Pourmand , M Hajiabdolbaghi, M Hoseini , N Mardani ,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (7-2008)
Abstract
Background and Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important human pathogens. A major clinical concern is the high rate of antibiotic resistance among Staphylococcus aureus strains. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains are a major cause of community- and hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, genetic investigation of S. aureus strains isolated from patients with staphylococcal infection is crucial not only for tracking of infections but also for nosocomial infection control.
Materials and Methods: In this study, 103 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected from Tehran University of Medical Sciences hospitals. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined using a panel of 13 antibiotics by the disk-diffusion method. The isolates were investigated for hvr by the PCR method.
Results: According to the antibiotic susceptibility testing, 21 antibiotype profiles were detected. Sixty-four out of the 103 isolates were resistant to methicillin. PCR results showed 10 different patterns of hvr.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed high rates of antibiotic resistance and variations of hvr among the Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The high degree of hvr variation can be a good tool to use for molecular typing of this bacterial strain. Further investigation of antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genetic features of this bacterium is highly recommended for controlling community- and hospital- acquired infections.
