Molecular detection of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus isolated from burns infection in Al-nasiriyah city

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the burn unit at Al-Hussein teaching hospital during the period from September, 2013 to January, 2014 in Thi-Qar province, Iraq. From a total of two hundred burn swab samples, there were 90 isolates recorded a 90 positive MRSA culture with a percentage of (45%). Identification was done depending on morphological, cultural, microscopical characterization and biochemical tests. Depending on the area of collection, the swabs were collected from 7 sites. Hands showed the highest Staph. aureus infections with 25 isolates (27.77%), followed by feet and necks with 20 (22.22%) and 16 (17.77%), respectively.  axilla and back sites showed the lowest infections with one Staph. aureus isolate with a percentage of for both (1.11%). A total of 90 isolates of Staph. aureus was further examined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of mecA gene,16s rRNA and PVL.  The results revealed that of MRSA isolates yield amplification products of mecA gene 68(75.5%), 16S rRNA found in all isolates and eighty-six isolates were PVL negative (95.5%) and the remaining 4.4% (4 isolates) were PVL positive.