| Associated-Genes and Virulence Factors of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Nasal Cavity of Neonates |
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Yung Bu Kim1, Ji Young Moon1, Jae Hong Park2 |
1Departments of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea
2Departments of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea |
| 신생아 비강에서 분리된 황색포도구균의 병원성 인자와 관련 유전자 |
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김영부1, 문지영1, 박재홍2 |
1부산대학교 의과대학 미생물학교실
2부산대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 |
Correspondence:
Yung Bu Kim, Email: ybkim@pusan.ac.kr
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: Nosocomial infection with Staphylococcus aureus, especially methicillin resistant S. aureus, has become a serious concern in the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of this study is to investigate the virulence factors, and the relationship between the antibiotic resistance and the associated genes of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nasal cavity of neonates.
Methods
: Fifty one isolates of S. aureus were obtained from nasal swab taken in 28 neonates in the NICU and nursery of Pusan National University Hospital between February and May, 2001. They were tested in regard to antibiotic susceptibility, coagulase test and typing, plasmid DNA profile, as well as reactivity to enterotoxin A-E(sea, seb, sec, sed, see) genes and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1(tst) gene by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Associated genes such as mecA, mecR1, mecI, and femA were also determined by PCR. The origin of MRSA strains was assessed using DNA fingerprinting by arbitrarily-primed polymerase chain reaction(AP-PCR).
Results
: Twenty three(45.1%) and six(11.8%) isolates were resistant to oxacillin and vancomycin respectively. Multidrug resistance to three or more of the antibiotics tested was observed in 51.0% of the isolates. Forty two isolates were coagulase positive and twenty two isolates had mecA gene. Sixteen isolates had both mecA and femA genes and had type I-III plasmids. 64.7% of isolates carried sec gene, and 80.4% carried tst gene. DNA fingerprinting by AP-PCR for 12 MRSA strains showed 10 distinct patterns, suggesting different origins.
Conclusion
: We confirmed that the prevalence of nasal carriage of S. aureus and the incidence of antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus, especially vancomycin resistance, is very high in neonates who were admitted in NICU and nursery. It is possible that these pathogens are responsible for serious nosocomial infections in neonates. The need for improved surveillance and continuous control of pathogens is emphasized. |
| Key Words:
Staphylococcus aureus, Antibiogram, Virulence factor |
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