Background and Purpose: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the important factors in the development of hospital infections. Staphylococcus aureus spa gene encodes the protein A, which is the surface protein of Staphylococcus aureus. This protein, in addition to the bacterial virulence factor, is also used to determine the specific identity of the bacterium. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of spa gene in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus with Valentine's Lactocidin Pantone gene.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 135 samples of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from blood culture, throat swabs, urine, nose and other parts of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Behshahr. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were confirmed by various biochemical and microbiological tests according to the brochure. In order to evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus aureus isolates, diffusion method was used according to NCCLS. The frequency of spa gene and pvl gene in Staphylococcus aureus isolates was investigated by PCR method.
Results: Out of 135 clinical samples, 38 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were identified. Phenotypic evaluation of the antibiotic resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus strains showed that 11 isolates (30%) were resistant to oxacillin and 32 (62%) isolates were susceptible to oxacillin. Also, 17 isolates (64%) were resistant to mupirocin and 17 (46%) isolates were susceptible to mupirocin. The PCR results showed that out of 38 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, 30 isolates had the spa gene and 18 isolates possessing the pvl gene. The results also showed that 55% pvl gene isolates had a spa gene and 45% lacked the spa gene.
Conclusion: Considering the high frequency of spa and pvl genes among Staphylococcus aureus-resistant methicillin strains, as well as the severe and deadly causes of these diseases, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment for preventing disease progression should be considered.