MRSA from Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil: intriguing epidemiological differences compared to other Brazilian regions

• Published in: The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 384 - 389
• Main Authors: Silveira, Alessandro C.O., Cunha, Gabriela R., Caierão, Juliana, de Cordova, Caio M., d’Azevedo, Pedro A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Elsevier Editora Ltda 01-07-2015; Contexto; Elsevier; Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial agents; Antimicrobial resistance; Brazil; Care and treatment; Dosage and administration; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Epidemiology; Humans; INFECTIOUS DISEASES; Methicillin; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; Original; Oxacillin; Risk factors; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus infections; Vancomycin; Brazil; Oxacillin; Antimicrobial resistance; Vancomycin
• ISSN: 1413-8670; 1678-4391; 1678-4391
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2015.04.009

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most frequently isolated agents in both nosocomial and community settings. It is a constant challenge for antibacterial therapy. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand the epidemiology of MRSA isolates in the institution and/or region to guide empirical therapy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolates in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and determine if there is a clonal spread. We evaluated 124 clinical isolates of MRSA obtained from various anatomical sites from patients in the state of Santa Catarina in Southern Brazil. The antimicrobial susceptibility profile was evaluated by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by Etest and broth macrodilution. SCCmec types were determined by multiplex PCR and the clonal relationship among isolates was assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Antimicrobials that have demonstrated lower rates of resistance were tetracycline (20.2%), sulfamethoxazole–trimethoprim (20.2%) and chloramphenicol (12.9%). We did not detect any resistance to glycopeptides, daptomycin, linezolid, and tigecycline. SCCmec type III was predominant (54%), followed by type II (21.8%), consistent with other Brazilian studies. Twenty-six clones were observed grouping 72 (58%) isolates and no clonal relationship was observed between our isolates and the major epidemic clones circulating in Brazil. An intriguing distinct MRSA epidemiology was observed in Santa Catarina, compared to other Brazilian regions.