Two International Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clones Endemic in a University Hospital in Patras, Greece

Abstract

ABSTRACT Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of Sma I macrofragments and hybridization of Cla I digests with the mecA - and Tn 554 -specific DNA probes were used to define the endemic clones of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among strains collected in 1993 and 1998 to 2000 at the University Hospital of Patras, Patras, Greece. Representatives of each clonal type were analyzed by spaA typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCC mec ) typing. The results indicated the existence of two successive international MRSA clones: (i) a clonal type with PFGE type A, sequence type (ST) 30 (ST30), and SCC mec type IV, which was very similar to a clone widely spread in the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Finland, and (ii) a clonal type with PFGE type B, ST239, and SCC mec III, which was related to the Brazilian clone. Both clones seem to be widespread in Greece as well. A novel MRSA clone is also described and is characterized by a new MLST type (ST80) associated with SCC mec type IV and with the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes.