PCR detection of indicator genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from three Saudi hospitals

Abstract

The aim of the present study is to examine the recovered strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) phenotypically by conventional identification. Genotypical examination was made also by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect the genes; lukF encoding Panton-Valentine Leukocidin(PVL) and arcA an indicator of the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME).Twenty-eight strains of Staphylococcus aureus, collected in 2013 from three Saudi central hospitals, were characterized by streaking on Mannitol salt agar plates and biochemically identified as Staphylococcus aureus. Resistance towards eight antimicrobial agents revealed that most of the tested strains of Staphylococcus aureus showed resistance to the tested antimicrobials in the following order; Oxacillin 100%, Tetracycline 71%, Cefoxitin 71%, Erythromycin 71%, Ciprofloxacin 71%, Imipenem 68%, Amikacin 60% and Vancomycin 7 %. All the tested strains produced the gene arcA, while 80% showed the presence of lukF.