Staphylococcus aureus isolates belonging to different multilocus sequence types present specific virulence gene profiles

Abstract

To characterize 73 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from infections in an orthopedic hospital in Rio de Janeiro, we investigated the SCCmec types, the clonality by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing, and the presence of virulence genes. Twenty-eight (38.3%) methicillin-resistant (16 SCCmec type IV and 12 type III) isolates were detected. Most (83.5%) of the isolates were included in five lineages: sequence type (ST) 239 (SCCmecIII), 1, 5, 30, and 1462 (SCCmecIV and/or methicillin-susceptible isolates). Virulence genes fnbB, bbp, and pvl were related to STs 239, 30, and 30/1462, respectively. Isolates from STs 1, 5, and 30 presented specific virulence profiles, irrespective of methicillin resistance.