Distribution of MecA and Erm Genes among Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus with Inducible Resistance to Clindamycin

  • Dudha Raj Malla Thakuri Department of Microbiology, National College,Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4313-9083
  • Anil Pokhrel Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1903-0387
  • Ritu Amatya Department of Microbiology, OM hospital and Research Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Narayan Sharma Bashyal Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Mary Neupane Department of Microbiology, National College,Tribhuvan University
  • Sudeep KC Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Dev Raj Joshi Central Department of Microbiology, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Santosh Khanal Department of Microbiology, National College,Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v21i1.4337

Abstract

Background: The emergence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and its ability to confer cross-resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B has complicated the treatment against it. Gene-based studies among phenotypic methicillin-resistant isolates with inducible resistance to clindamycin are less available in Nepal. This work was undertaken to detect the mecA and erm genes among such phenotypes isolated from clinical samples.
Methods: S. aureus isolated from different clinical samples was identified by standard microbiological procedures (Gram-staining, colony morphology, and different biochemical tests). Methicillin-resistant and inducible resistant to clindamycin phenotypes were detected by using cefoxitin disc (30 µg) and a double disk diffusion test according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and mecA and erm genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Among 120 S. aureus isolates, 51.67% (n=62) were MRSA, and the prevalence of inducibly-resistant, constitutively-resistant and Macrolide-Streptogramin phenotypes were 15.83% (n=19), 28.33% (n=34) and 15.83% (n=19) respectively. While 35.84% (n=43) of isolates showed sensitivity to both antibiotics, erythromycin and clindamycin. Out of 14 inducibly-resistant phenotypes, 57.14% (n=8) were found carrying ermC and 28.57% (n=4) phenotypes contained both ermA and ermC. All phenotypes were positive for the mecA gene.
Conclusions: Macrolides-Lincosamide-Streptogramin B resistance was predominant among methicillin-resistant S. aureus. While all isolates with inducible clindamycin resistance harbored mecA gene, most of them also harbored ermC gene. The higher prevalence of inducible-resistant to clindamycin indicated the need for rational use of antimicrobial agents.
Keywords: Erm gene; iMLSB resistance; mecA; methicillin-resistance; MRSA

Published
2023-09-08
How to Cite
Malla ThakuriD. R., PokhrelA., AmatyaR., Sharma BashyalN., NeupaneM., KCS., JoshiD. R., & KhanalS. (2023). Distribution of MecA and Erm Genes among Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus with Inducible Resistance to Clindamycin. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 21(1), 29-33. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v21i1.4337
Issue
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2023): Issue 58 Jan-March, 2023
Section
Original Article

Copyright (c) 2023 Dudha Raj Malla Thakuri, Anil Pokhrel, Ritu Amatya, Narayan Sharma Bashyal, Mary Neupane, Sudeep KC, Dev Raj Joshi, Santosh Khanal

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