Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia, are variants of the Brazilian clone

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2008 Aug;27(8):757-60. doi: 10.1007/s10096-008-0500-z. Epub 2008 May 15.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterise methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from the Republic of Georgia, part of the former Soviet Union. Thirty-two non-duplicate MRSA isolates were collected in the period from May 2006 to February 2007. The patient data were analysed and the isolates were characterised by staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing, staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Only two closely related spa types were found; 29 isolates were of spa type 459 and three were t030. The spa types belonged to sequence type (ST) 239, clonal complex (CC) 8. All isolates were multiresistant, PVL-negative and harboured SCCmec type IIIA. Based on the molecular findings and PFGE, the isolates most closely resembled the pandemic Brazilian clone (ST239-IIIA).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Clone Cells
  • Georgia (Republic)
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Methicillin / pharmacology
  • Methicillin Resistance*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Methicillin