Clonal diversity, antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants among staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from health care workers in north of iran

Parisa Sabbagh,1,* Amirmorteza ebrahimzadeh namvar,2 Soheil ebrahimpour,3

1. Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences
2. 2. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
3. Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

Introduction

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for high morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries. asymptomatic carriers are reservoir and important risk factor for transmission to others, particularly hospitalized patients. the aim of this study was to assess the molecular and epidemiological characteristics of staphylococcus aureus among healthcare workers in northern iran.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, nasal swabs were obtained from 120 healthcare workers. antimicrobial resistance pattern was assessed by disc diffusion method. characterization of isolated s. aureus strains was determined by meca, icad, sasx, mecc and mupa, acme-arca genes detection. the strain typing pattern was further analyzed using random amplified polymorphic dna rapd-pcr method.

Results

A total of 38 s. aureus strains were collected from participants. antibiotic resistance testing revealed a maximum resistance rate (100%) to amoxicillin. multiple drug resistance rate was 86.84% (33/38). the most prevalent gene was mupa (81.6%) followed by icad (73.7%), meca (68.4%), acme-arca (57.9%) and sasx (28.9%). none of isolates were mecc. furthermore, polymorphic patterns consisting of 28 discernible rapd types were recognized.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated high rate of antibiotic resistant s. aureus isolates among healthcare workers in northern iran. since healthcare workers are in close contact with patients, so they can be source of severe infections in hospitalized patients. we suggest future epidemiological studies on s. aureus isolates to better understanding the distribution of existing strains in northern iran. moreover, improving the knowledge of healthcare workers and measures for preventing the acquisition of s. aureus infection are also necessary.

Keywords

Nasal carriers, antibiotic resistance, staphylococcus aureus, molecular typing.