Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in clinical samples of patients with external ocular infection

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Staphylococcus aureus is the main Gram-positive bacteria isolated from patients with ocular infections. Herein, we describe the pattern of antibiotic resistance, presence of resistance genes including ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA, mecA and the pvl cytotoxin gene in S. aureus isolates collected from patients with external ocular infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 8 S. aureus isolates were collected from 81 patients that suffered from eye damage. Antibacterial susceptibility of isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resistance genes including ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA, mecA and the pvl virulence gene were detected by PCR method. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) in MRSA isolates were detected by the multiplex-PCR method. RESULTS: Three isolates were resistant to cefoxitin which is considered MRSA. The mecA gene was identified in MRSA isolates. SCCmec type IV and the pvl gene were detected in one of the MRSA isolates that was recovered from a diabetic patient. CONCLUSION: The emergence of S. aureus isolates belonging to SCCmec type IV and pvl gene among patients with ocular infection is very serious; therefore, identify genetic characterization of MRSA isolates for empirical therapy and infection control is very important.