Molecular epidemiology of cefotaxime-resistant but ceftazidime-susceptible Enterobacterales and evaluation of the in vitro bactericidal activity of ceftazidime and cefepime.

Extended-spectrum ß-lactamases' (ESBLs) production is the main resistance mechanism to third-generation cephalosporins (TGCs) in gram-negative bacilli. In Argentina, there is a high prevalence of cefotaximase-type ESBLs (CTX-M). For this reason, dissociated resistance phenotype (DRP) displaying a profile of resistance to cefotaxime (CTX) and susceptibility to ceftazidime (CAZ) might be detected. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of DRP in Enterobacterales clinical isolates, to characterize the mechanisms responsible for this phenotype and to evaluate the in vitro behaviour against different antibiotics. Sixty Enterobacterales resistant to any TGC were studied, and among them, 25% displayed a DRP. The ß-lactamases associated with DRP were 5/11 CTX-M-2, 4/11 CTX-M-14, 1/11 CTX-M-15 and 1/11 CMY-2 in E. coli, 2/3 CTX-M-2 and 1/3 CMY-2 in P. mirabilis and 1/1 CTX-M-14 in K. pneumoniae. Furthermore, CTX-M-2 and CTX-M-14 were related with DRP in both wild-type isolates and the corresponding transconjugants. Time-kill experiments showed CAZ bactericidal activity on CTX-M-2-and CTX-M-14-producing strains and bacterial regrowth in those CMY-2 producers. An opposite behaviour was evident when cefepime (FEP) was used. However, CAZ and gentamicin combination showed a synergistic effect against the CMY-2 producers. We concluded that Enterobacterales with DRP responded differently to CAZ or FEP depending on the type of ß-lactamase they possess, suggesting that these cephalosporins could be a therapeutic option. Therefore, the characterization of the involved resistance mechanism might contribute to define the appropriate antibiotic treatment.

Tipos de spa no reportados en nuestro país en Staphylococcus aureus de pacientes adultos de un hospital escuela, Santa Fe, Argentina / Non reported spa types in our country in Staphylococcus aureus from adult patients of a school hospital, Santa Fe- Argentina

Staphylococcus aureus es un patógeno responsable de diversos cuadros clínicos. Los marcadores moleculares son útiles para el estudio de la epidemiología microbiana. Se estudiaron 22 aislamientos de S. aureus resistentes a meticilina (SARM) y 23 sensibles a meticilina (SASM) mediante mecA, cassette SCCmec, leucocidina de Panton Valentine (LPV) y polimorfismo spa; se analizaron datos de los pacientes. SASM predominó en muestras distintas de piel y partes blandas de internados, mientras SARM en partes blandas. Predominó el SCCmec tipo IV seguido del I. Se encontró baja presencia de LPV. En SARM hubo 11 tipos de spa diferentes, t019 fue el más frecuente y en pacientes ambulatorios. En SASM se hallaron 17 tipos con prevalencia del t189. El spa t002 estuvo presente en SASM y SARM. Se hallaron 11 tipos de spa no reportados en nuestro país.

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen associated a different kind of infection. Molecular markers are useful tools to study microbial epidemiology. Twenty two methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 23 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) were studied by mecA gene, SCCmec cassette, Panton Valentine leucocidin (PVL) and spa polymorphism. The clinical data patients were analyzed. MSSA was prevalent in samples different from skin and soft tissue (SST) and in hospitalized patients, whereas MRSA in SST. SCCmec type IV was predominant, followed spa; by type I. Low presence of PVL was found. In MRSA 11 different types of spa were detected, SCCmec; t019 was the most frequent and associated with outpatient, 17 types were found in MSSA and Panton Valentine t189 was prevalent. spa t002 was present in MSSA and MRSA. We found 11 types of spa not leucocidin reported in our country.

[Non reported spa types in our country in Staphylococcus aureus from adult patients of a school hospital, Santa Fe - Argentina]. / Tipos de spa no reportados en nuestro país en Staphylococcus aureus de pacientes adultos de un hospital escuela, Santa Fe, Argentina.

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen associated a different kind of infection. Molecular markers are useful tools to study microbial epidemiology. Twenty two methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 23 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) were studied by mecA gene, SCCmec cassette, Panton Valentine leucocidin (PVL) and spa polymorphism. The clinical data patients were analyzed. MSSA was prevalent in samples different from skin and soft tissue (SST) and in hospitalized patients, whereas MRSA in SST. SCCmec type IV was predominant, followed by type I. Low presence of PVL was found. In MRSA 11 different types of spa were detected, t019 was the most frequent and associated with outpatient, 17 types were found in MSSA and t189 was prevalent. spa t002 was present in MSSA and MRSA. We found 11 types of spa not reported in our country.

A case of familial transmission of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying the Inu(A) gene in Santa Fe city, Argentina.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen causing skin and soft tissue infections as well as necrotizing pneumonia. We describe a case of familial transmission of CA-MRSA between a 6-month-old boy and his mother in Santa Fe City, Argentina. Both isolates showed an identical antimicrobial susceptibility profile, carried type IV SCCmec and harboured the pvl and the lnu(A) genes. Isolates showed indistinguishable SmaI-PFGE patterns confirming their genetic relationship. These results corroborate the intrafamilial transmission of CA-MRSA and might associate this strain with the repetitive events of furunculosis within the family.