Proof of Principle for Successful Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Skin by Use of Raman Spectroscopy and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

SUMMARYThis study involved the phenotypic and molecular characterization of a population of methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureusisolates from animals and from veterinary personnel in Ireland. Isolates from 77 animals (dogs,n=44; cats,n=4; horses,n=29) and from 28 veterinary personnel were characterized using their antimicrobial resistance profiles and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. In addition, a representative number of these isolates (n=52) were further analysed usingspa-typing techniques. The results obtained identified the presence of three distinct clonal complexes, CC5, CC8 and CC22, in both animal and human isolates. Two of these clonal complexes, CC8 and CC22, respectively, have been previously described in animals in Ireland but the presence of the third complex CC5 is a novel finding. The significance of this development, in relation to human and animal healthcare, is discussed.

Download Full-text

Use of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis to Determine the Source of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Infectious Disease Reports ◽

10.3390/idr13030056 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 602-610

Author(s):

Eugene Y. H. Yeung ◽

Ivan Gorn

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Pelvic Trauma ◽

Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Methicillin Resistant ◽

Pulsed Field ◽

Clinical Cases

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) has historically been considered the gold standard in fingerprinting bacterial strains in epidemiological studies and outbreak investigations; little is known regarding its use in individual clinical cases. The current study detailed two clinical cases in which PFGE helped to determine the source of their methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. Patient A was found to have MRSA bacteremia after trauma in her pelvic area. MRSA was also found in her groin but not in her nostril and rectum. PFGE was performed that showed variable bands of her MRSA isolates from blood and groin, suggestive of different strains of MRSA. Her MRSA bacteremia was determined to be unrelated to her pelvic trauma. Patient B was found to have MRSA bacteremia after colonoscopy. MRSA was also found in his nostril and rectum. PFGE was performed that showed variable bands of his MRSA isolates from blood and rectum but identical bands of MRSA isolates from his blood and nostril. His MRSA bacteremia was determined to be unrelated to his colonoscopy procedure. The current study demonstrates the use of PFGE to rule out the source of bacteremia in individual clinical cases.

Download Full-text

Characterization of Staphylococcus intermedius from Pigeons, Dogs, Foxes, Mink, and Horses by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Journal of Veterinary Medical Science ◽

10.1292/jvms.64.237 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 64 (3) ◽

pp. 237-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Yoshihisa WAKITA ◽

Akira SHIMIZU ◽

Václav HÁJEK ◽

Junichi KAWANO ◽

Kenji YAMASHITA

Keyword(s):

Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Pulsed Field ◽

Staphylococcus Intermedius

Download Full-text

Application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to the epidemiological characterization ofStaphylococcus intermediusimplicated in a food-related outbreak

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268800051487 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 113 (1) ◽

pp. 75-81 ◽

Cited By ~ 71

Author(s):

F. M. Khambaty ◽

R. W. Bennett ◽

D. B. Shah

Keyword(s):

Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Pfge Pattern ◽

Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Western United States ◽

Single Strain ◽

Pulsed Field ◽

Definitive Evidence ◽

Staphylococcus Intermedius ◽

Epidemiological Characterization

SUMMARYAn outbreak of food intoxication involving over 265 cases in western United States occurred in October 1991.Staphylococcus intermediuswas implicated as the aetiologic agent. Representative outbreak isolates (five clinical and ten from foods) produced type A enterotoxin. DNA fragments generated by four restriction endonucleases and analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) provided definitive evidence that all isolates from nine different counties in California and Nevada were derived from a single strain. The PFGE pattern of these outbreak isolates was distinct from those of a heterogeneous collection of sevenS. intermediusstrains of veterinary origin and five unrelatedS. aureuslaboratory strains. The data show a significant PFGE pattern heterogeneity not only among members of differentStaphylococcusspecies but also within members of the same species and even the same enterotoxin type. The results indicate that PFGE is a valuable strain-specific discriminator for the epidemiological characterization ofS. intermedius. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented foodborne outbreak caused byS. intermedius. These findings suggest that the presence ofS. intermediusand other species such asS. hyicusin food should be reason for concern.

Download Full-text