Outbreaks of infection caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Canadian correctional facility

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been identified in prison settings in the United States. The present study investigated two clusters of skin and soft tissue infection caused by community-acquired (CA) MRSA in a correctional facility in southern Ontario

Molecular characterization of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from Bermuda.

Molecular characteristics of vancomycin resistant enterococci isolates from Bermuda Island is currently unknown. This study was conducted to investigate phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of VRE isolates from Bermuda Island using the chromogenic agar, E-tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Eighteen E. faecium isolates were completely analyzed and were all resistant to vancomycin, susceptible to linezolid and quinupristin/dalfopristin, positive for vanA and esp genes. The MLST analysis confirmed most isolates were of the sequence types linked to clonal complex 17 (CC17) that is widely associated with outbreaks in hospitals. Infection control measures, antibiotic stewardship, and surveillance activities will continue to be a priority in hospital on the Island

MLST for Bermuda. Darker links represent less allelic differences than lighter links.

<p>SLV represents Single Locus Variant while TLV represents Triple Locus Variant.</p

Genetic characteristics and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci isolates from Caribbean countries.

Emergence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) that first appeared on the stage about three decades ago is now a major concern worldwide as it has globally reached every continent. Our aim was to simply undertake a multinational study to delineate the resistance and virulence genes of clinical isolates of VRE isolates from the Caribbean. We employed both conventional (standard microbiological methods including use of E-test strips, chromogenic agar) and molecular methods (polymerase chain reactions-PCR, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis-PFGE and multilocus sequence typing-MLST) to analyze and characterize 245 Enterococci species and 77 VRE isolates from twelve hospitals from eight countries in the Caribbean. The PCR confirmed and demonstrated the resistance and virulence genes (vanA and esp) among all confirmed VRE isolates. The PFGE delineated clonally related isolates from patients from the same country and other countries in the region. The main sequence types of the VRE isolates from the region included STs 412, 750, 203, 736 and 18, all from the common ancestor for clonal complex 17 (CC17). Despite this common ancestor and association of outbreaks of this lineage clones, there has been no reports of outbreaks of infection by VRE in several hospitals in the Caribbean

Distribution of the virulent genes, PFGE patterns and sequence types of VRE isolates from Caribbean countries.

<p>Distribution of the virulent genes, PFGE patterns and sequence types of VRE isolates from Caribbean countries.</p

Antibiotic susceptibility profile of clinical vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) isolates from Caribbean countries, 2009–2014 (%).

<p>Antibiotic susceptibility profile of clinical vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) isolates from Caribbean countries, 2009–2014 (%).</p

Distribution of the clinical specimens and hospital facilities of VRE isolates from Caribbean countries.

<p>Distribution of the clinical specimens and hospital facilities of VRE isolates from Caribbean countries.</p