• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2020

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body and causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). The present study examined the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolated from nasal swabs in clinical patients. SCCmec type of MRSA isolates from clinical patients were analyzed: 24 cases were SCCmec type-II; two cases were type-II/IVa; one case was type-II/V; one case was type-IVa; 11 cases were not-typeable. The mec complex type of MRSA isolates from clinical patients were analyzed: 29 cases were mec complex type A, and 10 cases were not-typeable, but type B was not found in the present study. In conclusion, SCCmec type-II and mec complex type A were the most dominant MRSA subtypes among the MRSA isolates from a nasal swab of patients, and the results were similar to other studies on hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA). These results can not only provide basic data for hospital infection management but also be a good guideline for MRSA infections in the Republic of Korea.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.110-117
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• 2018

In the present study, mec complex typing and SCCmec typing were performed to analyze the molecular genetic characteristics of 20 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from clinical specimens and 4 strains isolated from the ICU environments of secondary medical institutions in a Chungnam province, Korea, from June to July of 2017. Among a total of 20 MRSA strains isolated from clinical specimens, 8 cases (40%) were SCCmec type II, one case (5%) was SCCmec type IVa, and 11 cases (55%) were not-typeable in SCCmec type analysis. Among 4 MRSA isolates from the ICU environment, one strain did not have the mecA gene and 3 strains were typed as SCCmec types II, III, and IVa, respectively. Data from the present study showed that the origin of MRSA isolated from the clinical specimens was different from those from the ICU environment in most cases but the origin was concordant in one case. In this case, MRSA might be transmitted by healthcare workers to the ICU environment. Further study with a large number of cases and other hospital infection-related microorganisms will be needed. This continuous follow-up study might provide useful information on infection control in medical institutions.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.244-248
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• 2020

Skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can occur especially in community populations such as military training camps. We investigated antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolated from nasal swabs in healthy army trainees. From January 2018 to March 2018, one MRSA strain was isolated from nasal swab and hand of healthy army trainees. mecA gene detection, SCCmec and mec complex typing were performed to analyze the antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular epidemiological characteristics of MRSA isolates. As a result, SCCmec and mec complex type of MRSA isolate from military trainees was not-typeable (n=1). In conclusion, not-typeable subtype of MRSA isolate from military trainees need to be confirmed by continuous follow-up study to determine whether there is a different genotype or a new subtype of genotype present in the Republic of Korea.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2020

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known as a bacterium that can cause skin infections, respiratory system infections, and sinusitis; however, it can exist as a normal flora rather than a pathogen. Recently, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections have emerged in the community as a new variant of community-associated (CA)-MRSA. In the present study, S. aureus and MRSA were isolated and cultured by collecting samples from facilities and environments where students and educational personnel have multiple contacts on university campuses; specifically, the nostrils and hands of college students were tested from July to September of 2019. The molecular properties of the isolated MRSA were analyzed, and the one MRSA strain was isolated from the university campuses. One MRSA that was isolated and cultured on campus was the mec complex group A and staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type II, which is a characteristic of healthcare-associated (HA)-MRSA, and SCCmec type V, which is a characteristic of CA-MRSA. This result was similar to other studies wherein the SCCmec type II was detected in SCCmec typing analysis in CA-MRSA. To confirm whether there is a new variant of CA-MRSA in the Republic of Korea, additional follow-up studies on the analysis of virulence factors of MRSA are needed by additionally separating CA-MRSA from the body parts of university students and educational personnel.