Medical Microbiology & Diagnosis

Molecular Characterization of Community Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Recovered from Out Patient Clinics of Dermatology, Aligarh

Abstract

Afreen Hashmi, Indu Shukla and Syed Suhail Amin

Introduction: Community associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a growing concern. It causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI’s). According to CDC CA-MRSA is currently defined as an infection with MRSA in a person with no prior history of a health care exposure such as hospitalization,surgery ,permanentlv lines or other indwelling devices or hemodialysis. The mec-A gene is responsible for the resistance to methicillin as it alters. Penicillinbinding protein PBP2a to PBP2a’. Panton Valentine Leucocidin toxin infections causes skin and soft tissue infections in CA-MRSA. This toxin carries the gene Luk-PV which is responsible for the pathogenesis of skin lesions. In this study,prevalence of CA-MRSA in the out patient clinics of dermatology, Aligarh is being focused. Aim: To detect the presence of mec A and Luk-PV gene in CA-MRSA. Material and methods: The study was done in patients visiting the out patient department of dermatology with complaints of purulent skin infections. Pus was collected from the lesions after cleaning the surrounding area thoroughly. The sample was immediately transported to the Department of Microbiology for further processing. Out of 250 patients included in the study, 180 samples were positive for Staphylococcus infection. Out of these 180 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 80 were methicillin resistant. DNA was extracted from these 80 samples by hotcold method. Multiplex PCR was used to detect both mec A and Luk PV gene , primers used were 310 bp for mec A,433 bp for Luk PV gene. Results: Out of 80 samples, mec A was positive in all 80 samples and Luk PV gene was positive in 46(57.5%) patients and in 34(42.5%) patients Luk-PV was not present. Conclusion: In 30 patients MSSA was isolated which were negative for mec A gene and in 7(23.3%) of these isolates Luk-PV gene was detected. Multiplex PCR assay is simple ,rapid and accurate method and offers the potential for prompt detection of CA-MRSA.