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. 2021 Sep;115(6):377-391.
doi: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1906563. Epub 2021 Aug 2.

Occurrence, distribution and pattern analysis of methicillin resistant (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus on fomites in public facilities

Ziad W Jaradat  1 , Maysoon Khwaileh  1 , Waseem Al Mousa  1 , Qutaiba O Ababneh  1 , Anas Al Nabulsi  2
Affiliations

Occurrence, distribution and pattern analysis of methicillin resistant (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive (MSSA) Staphylococcus aureus on fomites in public facilities

Ziad W Jaradat et al. Pathog Glob Health. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a human pathogen incriminated as a causative agent of hospital nosocomial infections as well as a wide range of diseases in communities. This study was conducted to assess the occurrence and distribution of MRSA and methicillin-sensitive (MSSA) on different fomites in public facilities in northern Jordan and to determine their antibiograms, toxin genes profiles, as well as identify their genetic relatedness. A total of 2600 swabs were collected from 14 fomite surfaces in a variety of public facilities including hospitals, universities, schools, transportation sites, and market places. The identity of the 380 S. aureus isolates was confirmed. Among them, 158 (41.6%) were MRSA while the rest of the isolates, 222 (58.4%) were MSSA. MRSA isolates were recovered from all fomites sites. However, among the total collected samples, the percentages of MRSA in public facilities were significantly higher in hospitals and transportation fomites, while percentages of MRSA among fomites sites were higher in public reception sites, chairs, and toilet seats. Antibiotic resistance profiles indicated that 24.5% of the isolates were resistant to cefoxitin, oxacillin, and oxytetracycline. In contrast, only 3.95% were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and 15.3% were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Multidrug-resistant patterns were higher in MRSA than in MSSA isolates. There was no apparent difference in toxin gene profiles between MRSA and MSSA. Molecular analysis revealed 85 patterns and 16 clusters at a 9% mean similarity level. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the potential of MRSA transmission via inanimate surfaces.

Keywords: MRSA; Public fomites; Staphylococcus aureus; VNTR pattern analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The resistance of MRSA (n = 158) and MSSA (n = 222) isolates to 6 antibiotic groups
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The percentages of MRSA and MSSA isolates that were resistant to different antibiotic groups
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The percent distribution of toxin genes present in MRSA and MSSA isolates
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Numbers of toxin genes per MRSA and MSSA isolates
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Agarose gel electrophoresis (2%) showing PCR amplification product of the variable number tandem repeats of S. aureus. Lanes: M, 50 bp DNA ladder; (1–15), different S. aureus isolates producing different VNTR patterns; -ve, negative control (water)
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
MLVA dendrogram of the isolates generated by the UPGMA algorithm. Isolate clusters were delineated with 9% similarity cutoff value generating 16 different clusters
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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