Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Transmitted between Patients with Buruli Ulcer

• Published in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 9; no. 9; p. e0004049
• Main Authors: Amissah, Nana Ama, Chlebowicz, Monika A, Ablordey, Anthony, Sabat, Artur J, Tetteh, Caitlin S, Prah, Isaac, van der Werf, Tjip S, Friedrich, Alex W, van Dijl, Jan Maarten, Rossen, John W, Stienstra, Ymkje
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 01.09.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Adult; Bacteriology; Buruli ulcer; Buruli Ulcer - complications; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - microbiology; Carrier State - transmission; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross Infection; Disease transmission; Distribution; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic Variation; Genotype; Health Facilities; Humans; Identification and classification; Molecular Epidemiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Mortality; Mycobacterium ulcerans; Observations; Physiological aspects; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcal Infections - transmission; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - classification; Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Staphylococcus infections
• ISSN: 1935-2735; 1935-2727; 1935-2735
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004049

Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The wounds of most BU patients are colonized with different microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus. This study investigated possible patient-to-patient transmission events of S. aureus during wound care in a health care center. S. aureus isolates from different BU patients with overlapping visits to the clinic were whole-genome sequenced and analyzed by a gene-by-gene approach using SeqSphere(+) software. In addition, sequence data were screened for the presence of genes that conferred antibiotic resistance. SeqSphere(+) analysis of whole-genome sequence data confirmed transmission of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible S. aureus among patients that took place during wound care. Interestingly, our sequence data show that the investigated MRSA isolates carry a novel allele of the fexB gene conferring chloramphenicol resistance, which had thus far not been observed in S. aureus.