Genotyping of SCCmec and Detection of Antibiotic-resistant Genes in Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

OBJECTIVE To investigate the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec(SCCmec) genotype characteristics and antibiotic-resistant genes in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) isolated from Lianyungang.METHODS The SCCmec of clinically isolated MRSA strains were genotyped with a novel multiplex PCR strategy reported by Zhangetal.Antibiotic-resistant genes of aac(6′)/aph(2″),aph(3′)Ⅲ,tetM,erm,TEM,and ant(4′,4″) were analyzed by traditional PCR.RESULTS The isolates were almost SCCmec Ⅲ positve,only one isolate couldn′t be typed.The positive rates of aac(6′)/aph(2″),aph(3′)Ⅲ,tetM,and erm were 98%,46%,72% and 86%,respectively.TEM and ant(4′,4″) tested were all negative.CONCLUSIONS Almost all genotypes of MRSA prevailing in Lianyungang carry the SCCmec Ⅲ gene.There are high positive percentages of antibiotic-resistant genes of aac(6′)/aph(2″),aph(3′)Ⅲ,tetM and erm in the isolates.The novel multiplex PCR strategy recommended by Zhang et al can be applied into genotyping study of MRSA SCCmec effectively.