Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Israel: dissemination of global clones and unique features

Abstract

From 2006 to 2009, 315 clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates were collected from 5 hospitals across Israel. Most isolates (64%) were related to the global clones spa types t001-SCCmec-I (SCCmec-I stands for staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type I) (n = 99; 31%), t002-SCCmec-II (n = 82; 26%), and t008-SCCmec-IV (n = 21; 7%), five of which were identified as MRSA strain USA-300. Seventeen strains unique to Israel were identified. SCCmec types IV and V were common among hospital-acquired isolates.

Fig 1

Molecular features of spa-t008 strains in Israel. Molecular, microbiological, and epidemiological features of 21 spa-t008 isolates in Israel. The SCCmec type, presence (+) or absence (−) of the pvl and arcA genes, clindamycin drug resistance, center, onset, and source are shown in the columns to the right of the dendrogram and PFGE pattern. The Clin^a column shows the resistance (R) or susceptibility (S) of the strain to clindamycin. The Onset^b column shows whether the isolate was community associated (CA) (cultured within 3 days of admission to the hospital) or health care associated (HA) (cultured from ≥3 days of admission to the hospital). The Source^c column shows whether the isolates were derived from blood cultures (B) or wound cultures (W).