Whole genome sequencing and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from patients with bacteraemia in Slovenia

Dermota, Urška (author), Celar Šturm, Andraž (author), Triglav, Tina (author), Strašek, Katja (author), Velimirović, Ivana (author)

Purpose Data on the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients with bacteraemia in Slovenia are lacking. The aim of this study was to phenotypically and genotypically investigate 82 MRSA strains isolated from patients with bloodstream infections in central Slovenia between 2019 and 2022. Methods Whole-genome sequencing of selected strains was performed to characterize the strains based on sequence typing, antimicrobial resistance, toxin, and virulence factors genes. Results Most MRSA carried SCCmec II (63.4%), followed by SCCmec IV (34.1%) and SCCmec V (2.5%). A high proportion of strains belonging to the ST225 lineage (45.1%) was observed, followed by ST97 (18.3%), ST2883 (15.9%), ST22 (9.8%), ST5 (3.7%), and the ST1, ST398 and ST45 lineages (2.4% each). Sixteen different spa types were identified, predominantly ST225-t003 (31.7%), ST97-t359 (15.9%), and ST2883-t4336 (14.6%). None of the strains carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin, exfoliative toxins, or toxic shock toxin. All MRSA strains were susceptible to linezolid, rifampicin, vancomycin, teicoplanin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. MRSA strains were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline and gentamicin, with a frequency of 74.4%, 74.4%, 8.5%, and 1.2%, respectively. Conclusion This study demonstrates that bacteraemia in central Slovenia is caused by diverse MRSA lineages. Identification of newly emerged lineages should be followed in the future to detect changes in the molecular epidemiology of MRSA in our country.

• Language: English
• Keywords: MRSA, bloodstream infections, whole genom sequencing, Slovenia
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 969-977
• Numbering: Vol. 43, iss. 5
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158240
• UDC: 616-097:616.1
• ISSN on article: 0934-9723
• DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04802-1
• COBISS.SI-ID: 197289987
• Publication date in RUL: 30.05.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases
• Shortened title: Eur. j. clin. microbiol. infect. dis.
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 0934-9723
• COBISS.SI-ID: 590356

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: okužbe krvnega obtoka, sekvenciranje celotnega genoma, Slovenija

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P3-0083
• Name: Odnosi parazitskega obstajanja