Monitoring meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and its spread in Copenhagen, Denmark, 2013, through routine whole genome sequencing.

Typing of meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by whole genome sequencing (WGS) is performed routinely in Copenhagen since January 2013. We describe the relatedness, based on WGS data and epidemiological data, of 341 MRSA isolates. These comprised all MRSA (n = 300) identified in Copenhagen in the first five months of 2013. Moreover, because MRSA of staphylococcal protein A (spa)-type 304 (t304), sequence type (ST) 6 had been associated with a continuous neonatal ward outbreak in Copenhagen starting in 2011, 41 t304 isolates collected in the city between 2010 and 2012 were also included. Isolates from 2013 found to be of t304, ST6 (n=14) were compared to the 41 earlier isolates. In the study, isolates of clonal complex (CC) 22 were examined in detail, as this CC has been shown to include the hospital-acquired epidemic MRSA (EMRSA-15) clone. Finally, all MRSA ST80 were also further analysed, as representatives of an important community-acquired MRSA in Europe. Overall the analysis identified 85 spa-types and 35 STs from 17 CCs. WGS confirmed the relatedness of epidemiologically linked t304 neonatal outbreak isolates. Several non-outbreak related patients had isolates closely related to the neonatal isolates suggesting unrecognised community chains of transmission and insufficient epidemiological data. Only four CC22 isolates were related to EMRSA-15. No community spread was observed among the 13 ST80 isolates. WGS successfully replaced conventional typing and added information to epidemiological surveillance. Creation of a MRSA database allows clustering of isolates based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) calling and has improved our understanding of MRSA transmission.

An emerging Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive CC5-meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-IVc clone recovered from hospital and community settings over a 17-year period from 12 countries investigated by whole-genome sequencing.

BACKGROUND: A novel Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clonal complex (CC)5-MRSA-IVc ('Sri Lankan' clone) was recently described from Sri Lanka. Similar isolates caused a recent Irish hospital outbreak. AIM: To investigate the international dissemination and diversity of PVL-positive CC5-MRSA-IVc isolates from hospital and community settings using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). METHODS: Core-genome single nucleotide polymorphism (cgSNP) analysis, core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST) and microarray-based detection of antimicrobial-resistance and virulence genes were used to investigate PVL-positive CC5-MRSA-IVc (N = 214 including 46 'Sri Lankan' clone) from hospital and community settings in 12 countries over 17 years. Comparators included 29 PVL-positive and 23 PVL-negative CC5/ST5-MRSA-I/II/IVa/IVc/IVg/V. RESULTS: Maximum-likelihood cgSNP analysis grouped 209/214 (97.7%) CC5-MRSA-IVc into Clade I; average of 110 cgSNPs between isolates. Clade III contained the five remaining CC5-MRSA-IVc; average of 92 cgSNPs between isolates. Clade II contained seven PVL-positive CC5-MRSA-IVa comparators, whereas the remaining 45 comparators formed an outlier group. Minimum-spanning cgMLST analysis revealed a comparably low average of 57 allelic differences between all CC5/ST5-MRSA-IVc. All 214 CC5/ST5-MRSA-IVc were identified as 'Sri Lankan' clone, predominantly spa type t002 (186/214) with low population diversity and harboured a similar range of virulence genes and variable antimicrobial-resistance genes. All 214 Sri Lankan clone isolates and Clade II comparators harboured a 9616-bp chromosomal PVL-encoding phage remnant, suggesting both arose from a PVL-positive meticillin-susceptible ancestor. Over half of Sri Lankan clone isolates were from infections (142/214), and where detailed metadata were available (168/214), most were community associated (85/168). CONCLUSIONS: Stable chromosomal retention of pvl may facilitate Sri-Lankan clone dissemination.

Rhinopharynx irrigations and mouthwash with dissolved mupirocin in treatment of MRSA throat colonization - proof-of-concept study.

BACKGROUND: To prevent transmission of, and infection with, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), eradication treatment of colonized individuals is recommended. Throat colonization is a well-known risk factor for eradication failure. Staphylococcus aureus throat colonization is associated with colonization of the rhinopharynx, but in the currently recommended Danish MRSA eradication strategies, rhinopharynx colonization is not directly targeted. Rhinopharynx colonization could therefore be an important risk factor for prolonged MRSA throat carriage. AIM: To determine whether irrigation and wash of the rhinopharynx and mouth with dissolved mupirocin is a feasible and potentially efficacious supplementary strategy against treatment-resistant MRSA throat carriage. METHODS: The patient study was an open, non-blinded, trial including 20 treatment-resistant MRSA throat carriers. In the study, the patients received a supplementary treatment besides the standard treatment according to the Danish MRSA eradication strategy. The supplementary treatment consisted of rhinopharyngeal irrigation and mouth-gurgling twice a day for 14 days with a mupirocin ointment (22 g 2% ointment per litre of isotonic sterile saline solution) in a 37°C solution. FINDINGS: Eighteen patients (90%) complied with the treatment protocol and none ex-perienced any major adverse events. Out of the 18 patients who finished the study per protocol, 15 (83%) and seven (39%) patients had negative MRSA sampling results one and six months after end of treatment, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility and clinical potential of also targeting the rhinopharynx and oropharynx in non-systemic throat MRSA eradication strategies.

Repeated introduction and spread of the MRSA clone t304/ST6 in northern Europe.

OBJECTIVES: During the last decades several methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones with the capability of global spread have emerged in the community. Here, we have investigated a large collection of clinical isolates belonging to MRSA clone t304/ST6, which has emerged in many European countries over the last years, in order to retrace its phylogeny and its spread. METHODS: We characterized 466 ST6 isolates from Denmark (n = 354), France (n = 10), Norway (n = 24), Sweden (n = 27) and the UK (n = 51). All had spa-type t304 (n = 454) or t304-related spa-types (n = 12) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) was carried out on Illumina Miseq or Hiseq with 100-300 bp reads. cgMLST was performed using Ridom SeqSphere. RESULTS: A minimum spanning tree (MST) of all 466 isolates showed one large cluster including 182 isolates collected only from Denmark and related to a long-term neonatal outbreak in Copenhagen. This cluster contrasted with numerous small clusters, including the remaining Danish isolates and isolates from the other countries that interspersed throughout the tree. Most isolates were Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) negative (95%) and harboured SCCmec IVa. One genome was closed using Oxford Nanopore technology and Illumina MiSeq. It contained a plasmid of 19.769 bp including the blaZ gene. A similar plasmid was found in 78% of all isolates. DISCUSSION: t304/ST6 is a successful emerging clone and the fact that isolates from five countries are interspersed throughout the MST indicates a common origin. This clone is commonly described in the Middle East and its emergence in Europe coincides with influx of refugees from the Syrian Civil War.

Environmental meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) disinfection using dry-mist-generated hydrogen peroxide.

Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major problem in hospitals worldwide. Hand hygiene is recognised as crucial in limiting the spread of MRSA but less is known about the role of MRSA reservoirs in the inanimate hospital environment. We evaluated the effect of hydrogen peroxide vapour diffused by Sterinis((R)) against MRSA in two experimental hospital settings and in two field trials. Dipslides were used for MRSA detection and quantification before and after using the Sterinis disinfection process. In the first experimental hospital setting, four epidemic MRSA strains were placed at five locations and left for one week. All strains survived the week but not the disinfection process. In field trial one 14 upholstered chairs from a department with many MRSA positive patients were left for one month in a closed room prior to disinfection. MRSA was found on the upholstery of four of the 14 chairs. Three chairs became MRSA negative immediately after the disinfection, the fourth 24h later. The second field trial was in the private home of a MRSA positive family of four individuals. One location was found MRSA positive, remaining so after the Sterinis cycles. We found Sterinis to be effective against MRSA in the experimental hospital setting and upholstered chairs, but not in the private home of heavily colonised MRSA patients.

Identification of a PVL-negative SCCmec-IVa sublineage of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC80 lineage: understanding the clonal origin of CA-MRSA.

OBJECTIVES: Community-acquired (CA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates belonging to clonal complex 80 (CC80) are recognized as the European CA-MRSA. The prevailing European CA-MRSA clone carries a type IVc staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) and expresses Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Recently, a significant increase of PVL-negative CC80 MRSA has been observed in Denmark. The aim of this study was to examine their genetics and epidemiology, and to compare them to the European CA-MRSA clone in order to understand the emergence of PVL-negative CC80 MRSA. METHODS: Phylogenetic analysis of the CC80 S. aureus lineage was conducted from whole-genome sequences of 217 isolates (23 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and 194 MRSA) from 22 countries. All isolates were further genetically characterized in regard to resistance determinants and PVL carriage, and epidemiologic data were obtained for selected isolates. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of three distinct clades of the CC80 lineage: (a) an methicillin-susceptible S. aureus clade encompassing Sub-Saharan African isolates (n = 13); (b) a derived clade encompassing the European CA-MRSA SCCmec-IVc clone (n = 185); and (c) a novel and genetically distinct clade encompassing MRSA SCCmec-IVa isolates (n = 19). All isolates in the novel clade were PVL negative, but carried remnant parts (8-12 kb) of the PVL-encoding prophage ΦSa2 and were susceptible to fusidic acid and kanamycin/amikacin. Geospatial mapping could link these isolates to regions in the Middle East, Asia and South Pacific. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports the emergence of a novel CC80 CA-MRSA sublineage, showing that the CC80 lineage is more diverse than previously assumed.

A new multiplex PCR for easy screening of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus SCCmec types I-V.

A multiplex PCR with four primer-pairs was designed to identify the five main known SCCmec types. A clear and easily discriminated band pattern was obtained for all five types. The SCCmec type was identified for 98% of 312 clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). SCCmec type IV was by far the most common SCCmec type among both hospital- and community-acquired MRSA isolates in Denmark.

Rise and subsequent decline of community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST30-IVc in Copenhagen, Denmark through an effective search and destroy policy.

The number of patients with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has increased rapidly in Copenhagen, Denmark since 2003. Patients with the typical Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive CA-MRSA clone ST30-IVc were contacted with the aim of treating MRSA carriers, evaluating the effect of MRSA eradication therapy (ET), and finding links among patients. Twenty-three index patients infected with the ST30-IVc clone from November 2003 to September 2005 were contacted and transmission chains were studied. The majority of ST30-IVc patients had a connection to the Philippines. Household members were screened for MRSA and all members of families with MRSA carriers were offered treatment of the carrier state and were followed for 1 year. MRSA carriers were found in seven of 16 households and transmission occurred among close contacts and in kindergartens. Five days of ET was insufficient and at least one person in each household was treated with systemic antibiotics. All families were MRSA negative at 1-year follow-up. The CA-MRSA clone ST30-IVc has been imported to Copenhagen, Denmark, primarily from the Philippines, and has spread through close contacts and in kindergartens. Treatment of MRSA carriers was difficult and required many resources, but the clone was eventually successfully eliminated. The import of ST30-IVc to Denmark will continue, but the spread of the clone in Denmark can be kept to a minimum by direct intervention in the affected families.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals in Tbilisi, the Republic of Georgia, are variants of the Brazilian clone.

The purpose of this study was to characterise methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from the Republic of Georgia, part of the former Soviet Union. Thirty-two non-duplicate MRSA isolates were collected in the period from May 2006 to February 2007. The patient data were analysed and the isolates were characterised by staphylococcal protein A (spa) typing, staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) typing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and the detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes. Only two closely related spa types were found; 29 isolates were of spa type 459 and three were t030. The spa types belonged to sequence type (ST) 239, clonal complex (CC) 8. All isolates were multiresistant, PVL-negative and harboured SCCmec type IIIA. Based on the molecular findings and PFGE, the isolates most closely resembled the pandemic Brazilian clone (ST239-IIIA).

Implementation of an outpatient prescription drug formulary in a managed-care system.

The development and implementation of an outpatient prescription formulary in an independent-practice model health maintenance organization (HMO) and the role of the pharmacy and therapeutics (P&T) committee in the process are described. Approximately 600 physicians provide medical care and control the operation of this independent practice association (IPA); of approximately 45,000 members, 95% are eligible for outpatient prescription services provided by one of 188 local pharmacies. The formulary, which is restricted to noninjectable medications, was developed by a P&T committee composed of eight IPA physicians, a representative of the local pharmaceutical association, and three staff members of the IPA's pharmacy department. The printed version of the formulary indexed almost 1800 items and included only commonly used medications to limit its size. Requests for additions or deletions of drugs were evaluated monthly. After a four-month period during which physicians were asked to comply with the formulary, mandatory compliance was imposed, with a limit of 16 nonformulary prescriptions per physician per month being allowed. Based on the results of an informal survey, the physicians indicated that the formulary was relatively easy to adjust to (44.1%), somewhat difficult to work with (43.6%), and somewhat disruptive to their prescribing practices (55.3%). When asked about quality of patient care, 74.3% indicated there was no change. Physician compliance with the formulary system increased from 88.0% to 96.1% after the formulary was mandated by the IPA. Under the direction of the P&T committee, a formulary was implemented effectively in this HMO outpatient prescription drug program.