DETECTION OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (MRSA) IN CLINICAL SAMPLE OF PATIENTS WITH EXTERNAL OCULAR INFECTION

Background and Aim:Staphylococcus aureus is the main gram-positive bacteria isolated from patients with ocular infections. Herein, we describe the pattern of antibiotic resistance, presence of resistance genes including ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA, mecA genes and pvl cytotoxin gene in S. aureus isolates were collected from patients with external ocular infection.Methods:In this study, 8 S. aureus isolates were collected from 81 patients that suffered from eye damages. Antibacterial susceptibility of isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Resistance genes including ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA, mecA and pvl virulence gene were detected by PCR method. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) in MRSA isolates were detected by multiplex-PCR method.Results:Three isolates were resistance to cefoxitin that considered as MRSA. The mecA gene identified in MRSA isolates. SCCmec type IV and pvl gene were detected in one of MRSA isolates that recovered from a diabetic patient.Conclusion:The emergence of S. aureus isolates belonged to SCCmec type IV; pvl gene among patients with ocular infection is very serious, so genetic characteristics of MRSA isolates for empirical therapy and infection control is very important.

Keywords:

Eye infection , MRSA , PVL