Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Wound Cultures Recovered from a Combat Support Hospital in Iraq
Abstract
Background: Staphylococcus aureus infections complicate care of combatrelated injuries and can independently result in skin and soft-tissue infections during deployments or training. Community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) strains seem to produce severe disease but retain susceptibility to many oral antimicrobials. This study characterizes 84 MRSA isolates recovered from wound cultures at a combat support hospital in Iraq. Methods: MRSA strains recovered from December 2007 through March 2009 were analyzed. Antimicrobial resistance testing was determined by broth microdilution and the BD Phoenix Automated Microbiology System. The genotypic pattern was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and polymerase chain reaction identification of resistance and virulence genes. Results: No MRSA isolates from wound cultures were resistant to vancomycin. The most active oral antistaphylococcal agents were tetracycline (95% susceptibility), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (94%), and clindamycin (94%). Of agents not typically recommended as monotherapy, 98% of isolates were susceptible to rifampin, 91% to moxifloxacin, and 60% to levofloxacin. The most common pulsed-field type (PFT) was USA300 (79%). The typical staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec IV elements carrying the CA-MRSA resistance genes were present in 88% of the isolates. Panton-Valentine leukocidin virulence genes were identified in 88% of isolates, including 100% of PFT USA300. The virulence gene associated with an arginine catabolic mobile element was present in 75% of isolates, including 94% of PFT USA300.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA628719
Entities
People
- Charles H. Guymon
- Clinton K. Murray
- Edgie-mark A. Co
- Katrin Mende
- Matthew E. Griffith
- Michael W. Ellis
- Miriam Beckius
- Wade Aldous
- Wendy C. Zera
- Xin Yu
Organizations
- United States Army Institute of Surgical Research