Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Madrid, Spain: transcontinental importation and polyclonal emergence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive isolates

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008 Jun;61(2):143-9. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.01.001. Epub 2008 Feb 15.

Abstract

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) isolates producing the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) have been reported worldwide. We describe the molecular characteristics of PVL-positive CA-MRSA strains isolated in Madrid, Spain, and analyze the clinical features of patients infected with these isolates. From 2004 to 2007, we collected 13 PVL-positive MRSA isolates from patients attending to the emergency department. The isolates were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, SCCmec typing, agr polymorphism, and multilocus sequence typing. Susceptibility to 29 antimicrobials was determined by the broth microdilution and by the E-test methods. The isolates belonged to 3 genotypes: ST8-SCCmec IVc (n = 11), ST5-SCCmec IVa (n = 1), and ST80-SCCmec IVc (n = 1). The corresponding agr types were I, II, and III, respectively. Five isolates were resistant to tetracycline and doxycycline, and 1 was resistant to fusidic acid (ST80). The isolates were from children (n = 9) and adults (n = 4), and were associated with skin and soft tissue infections (n = 9), otitis (n = 1), and bacteremia (n = 1). Nine patients were from South America. Our results indicate the transcontinental importation and recent emergence in Spain of PVL-positive CA-MRSA strains belonging to 3 distinct lineages, including 1 predominant (ST8-SCCmec IVc).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Toxins / biosynthesis*
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Community-Acquired Infections / epidemiology
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology*
  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Exotoxins / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leukocidins / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Methicillin Resistance / genetics*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Otitis / microbiology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / classification*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Trans-Activators / genetics

Substances

  • Agr protein, Staphylococcus aureus
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Exotoxins
  • Leukocidins
  • Panton-Valentine leukocidin
  • Trans-Activators