First Report of a Methicillin-Resistant, High-Level Mupirocin-Resistant Staphylococcus argenteus

• Published in: Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology Vol. 12; p. 860163
• Main Authors: Shittu, Adebayo Osagie, Layer-Nicolaou, Franziska, Strommenger, Birgit, Nguyen, Minh-Thu, Bletz, Stefan, Mellmann, Alexander, Schaumburg, Frieder
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 15.03.2022
• Subjects: Cellular and Infection Microbiology; high-level mupirocin resistance; identification; Methicillin Resistance; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus argenteus; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Mupirocin - pharmacology; Phylogeny; plasmid; Staphylococcus; whole-genome sequencing (WGS); high-level mupirocin resistance; plasmid; whole-genome sequencing (WGS); identification; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus argenteus
• ISSN: 2235-2988; 2235-2988
• DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.860163

We describe the identification of a methicillin-resistant, high-level mupirocin-resistant . The isolate (1801221) was characterized as t6675-ST2250-SCC IVc, and whole-genome sequencing revealed that the isolate possessed two plasmids. One plasmid (34,870 bp), designated p1_1801221 with , harboured the mupirocin resistance ( ) gene. The second plasmid (20,644 bp), assigned as p2_1801221 with and , carried the resistance determinants for penicillin ( ) and cadmium ( ). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate clustered with the European ST2250 lineage. The overall high similarity of both plasmids in with published DNA sequences of plasmids strongly suggests an interspecies transfer. The pathogenic potential, community and nosocomial spread, and acquisition of antibiotic resistance gene determinants, including the gene by , highlight its clinical significance and the need for its correct identification.