Open Access

Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in patients from a primary regional hospital

  • Authors:
    • Anca Ungureanu
    • Ovidiu Zlatian
    • George Mitroi
    • Andrei Drocaş
    • Tiberiu Ţîrcă
    • Daniela Călina
    • Cristina Dehelean
    • Anca Oana Docea
    • Boris N. Izotov
    • Valerii N. Rakitskii
    • Ramona Cioboată
    • Demetrios A. Spandidos
    • Aristides M. Tsatsakis
    • Alice Găman
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 10, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7746
  • Pages: 8771-8780
  • Copyright: © Ungureanu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus (SA or S. aureus) is a common pathogen that leads to local and systemic infections in communitarian and hospitalised patients. Staphylococcus colonizing nasal or pharyngeal sites can become virulent and cause severe infections. In this study, we collected 322 pharyngeal exudates and 142 nasal exudates from hospitalised and outpatients for screening purposes. The carriage rates in the pharynx were 27.06% for S. aureus, 11.55% for methicillin‑resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 5.61% for methicillin‑oxacillin resistant S. aureus (MORSA). The carriage rates in the nose were 35.38% for S. aureus, 18.46% for MRSA and 13.85% for MORSA. The median multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of SA was 33.33%. The MAR of MRSA was significantly higher than that of methicillin-susceptible strains (MSSA) (45.45% vs. 18.75%, P<0.0001) and the MAR of MORSA was 57.14%. Hierarchical clustering analysis revealed differences in the resistance of methicillin-sensitive, MRSA and MORSA strains. On the whole, our study demonstrates the pattern of distribution of nasal and pharyngeal colonisation with SA, MRSA and MORSA in adults vs. children, inpatients vs. outpatients, ICU patients vs. non‑ICU patients, and females vs. males, which can be used for adjusting the screening and decontamination protocols in a hospital. SA is a pervasive pathogen with constantly changing trends in resistance and epidemiology and thus requires constant monitoring in healthcare facilities.

Introduction

Staphylococcus aureus (SA or S. aureus) is a common pathogen that causes local and systemic infections in patients in the community and hospitalised patients, due to its large array of virulence factors. It is the most common germ found in the pharynx and nasal cavities in screening samples. Although the nasal cavities are considered the primary carriage site for SA, data suggest that the pharynx can equally contribute to carrier status (1,2).

In many cases of hospitalised patients, Staphylococcus colonizing nasal or pharyngeal sites can become virulent and can cause severe and even fatal infections in cases of: endocarditis, meningitis, blood stream infections, surgical site infections (3), allogenic transplant (4), acquired vitamin K coagulopathies (5), parapneumonic pleurisy (6). In the hospital environment, SA strains initially sensitive to methicillin [methicillin-susceptible strains (MSSA)] can transform into methicillin-resistant SA (MRSA). Fundamental differences have been found between community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) (2), which exhibits an increased drug resistance due to antibiotic selective pressure. The increase in the resistance of MRSA strains has a significant impact on patient care and also influences all the components of the infection control system (7). Mult-iresistant MRSA strains are defined as strains resistant to three or more non-β lactam drugs. These strains are designated as methicillin-oxacillin resistant SA (MORSA) and are associated with treatment failure. From these reasons, it is clear that there is a need to monitor the incidence and antibiotic resistance of MRSA strains on a regular basis (8). There is also a need for the discovery of novel molecules that may have antibacterial activity against SA strains. Some progress has been made with testing the essential oil of propolis from the Cerrado biome, as well as anhydrofusarubin and methyl ether of fusarubin extracted from the endorphytic fungus, Cladosporium sp., isolated from the leaves of Rauwolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz. (family, Apocyanaceae); these tests have yielded promising results against SA strains (9,10); however, further studies are required to confirm these findings.

The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of colonisation with SA in a hospital environment and in the Oltenia province in Romania where our hospital is located, and to compare the risk factors for colonisation with multi-resistant strains of SA. We also aimed to characterise the antibiotic resistance phenotypes of SA strains circulating in the Oltenia province in order to orient the preventive antibiotic therapy.

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted between January-December 2016 and included a total of 329 patients (167 males and 162 females) aged between 6 months and 94 years; 210 patients were hospitalised in the County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Craiova (Craiova, Romania) and 119 were outpatients. We collected 322 pharyngeal exudates and 142 nasal exudates for screening purposes [active surveillance cultures (ASC)]. In total, 2 pharyngeal exudates were collected from 19 patients, and 2 nasal exudates were collected from 12 patients. The reason for the collection of 2 exudates was the fact that the first exudate culture was negative, despite the clinical symptoms, and the physician ordered the collection of a second sample.

This study was carried out in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, and was approved by the Review Ethics Board of the University Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova and of the County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Craiova, Romania. All patients involved in this study signed a full informed consent prior to obtaining the samples. We collected both pharyngeal and nasal exudates from 135 patients, only pharyngeal exudates from 187 patients and only nasal exudates from 7 patients. One swab was taken from the nostrils which was rotated gently in both nostrils, and one swab was taken from the pharynx by sweeping both tonsils. We used rayon-tipped swab with Amies charcoal transport medium (Copan Diagnostics Inc., Brescia, Italy).

The germs were identified by classical microbiological diagnosis, as previously described (11). We plated both swabs directly on selective media for SA (ChromID S. aureus) and MRSA (ChromID MRSA; both from Biomerieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France). Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines released in 2015 (12), using the Kirby-Bauer method. From isolated colonies on selective medium for SA (ChromID S.aureus, Biomerieux) and MRSA (ChromID MRSA, Biomerieux), we performed an inoculum in liquid broth (Biomerieux) which we adjusted to 0.5 McFarland turbidity with a Densimat instrument (Biomerieux). The inoculum was poured into Muller Hinton agar plates (Biomerieux). After drying the plates for 3 min at 37°C, we placed the antibiotic disks (Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke, UK) in an equally spaced fashion, using a maximum of 6 disks per plate. The plates were then incubated at 37°C for 18 h and the following day the inhibition zone diameters were measured using an electronic caliper for maximum precision of the measurement. For the quality control of the Muller Hinton agar plates and antibiotic disks, we used the Kirby-Bauer method with the SA control strains, ATCC 25923 and ATCC 43300 (Liofilchem s.r.l, Teramo, Italy).

Statistical analysis

Consecutive samples collected from the same patient after an interval of <7 days were excluded from the analysis. For data entry and all statistical calculations, we used Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) and Stata (StataCorp LLC, College Station, TX, USA). Numerical variables are expressed as the means ± standard deviation. We divided the patients into categories [adults (age, >18 years) and children (age, ≤18 years)]. Categorical variables were expressed as proportions. For differences between resistance indexes of different patient groups, we used the Student's t-test when the values distribution was normal (as assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis rank test when the values distribution was not normal (normality distribution was tested by the Shapiro-Walk method). For differences between proportions of SA, MRSA and MORSA in the various groups, we used the Chi-square test the test on the equality of proportions with Normal distribution. A value of P<0.05 was considered to indicate a statistically significant difference.

The statistical method hierarchical clustering was used in order to construct an inheritance tree of the isolates based on the antibiotic resistance pattern. As the strains that transmit from a patient to another will probably suffer mutations in the genes of antibiotic resistance according to the administered antibiotic treatment, the relatedness by the antibiotic resistance pattern can be used as an indication of the genetic relatedness of the SA strains. We measured the diameters of inhibition areas around antibiotic disks on a Petri dish and used them to perform hierarchical clustering analysis in STATA software with the option of Ward's minimum variance clustering. The assignment of isolates to clusters was based upon inhibition zone diameters.

Results

From the 322 pharyngeal exudates, 104 (32.30%) were positive, whereas from the 142 nasal exudates, 48 (33.80%) were positive. The species isolated consisted mostly of S. aureus (67.21% in pharyngeal swabs and 75.41% in nasal swabs), coagulase negative staphylococci (0.82% in pharyngeal swabs and 4.92% in nasal swabs), Klebsiella spp. (21.31% in pharyngeal swabs and 9.84% in nasal swabs) and in smaller percentages, Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp. and glucose non-fermenters Gram-negative rods (Table I and Fig. 1). The prevalence in the two types of swabs differed only for Klebsiella (Chi-square test, P=0.0540) and for coagulase-negative staphylococci, without reaching statistical significance (P=0.0739). The prevalence in the nasal cavity of coagulase negative staphylococci was greater in females compared with males (12.00 vs. 0.00%, P=0.0330). The prevalence of S. aureus was significantly (P<0.0001) greater in outpatients (91.84%) that in inpatients (50.68%) (Table I). In addition, 3 strains of Candida albicans were isolated only from inpatients from two pharyngeal swabs and one nasal swab (0.91% of patients) (data not shown).

Table I.

The bacterial species isolated from pharyngeal and nasal swabs, broken down by patient sex, age group (adults/children) and hospitalisation status (inpatient/outpatient).

Table I.

The bacterial species isolated from pharyngeal and nasal swabs, broken down by patient sex, age group (adults/children) and hospitalisation status (inpatient/outpatient).

Pharyngeal swabsNasal swabsPharyngeal swabsNasal swabsPharyngeal swabsNasal swabs






SpeciesPharyngeal swabs (n=122)Nasal swabs (n=61)P-valueMales (n=68Females (n=54)P-valueMales (n=36)Females (n=25)P-valueAdults (n=112)Children (n=10)P-valueAdults (n=61)Children (n=0)P-valueInpatients (n=73)Outpatients (n=49)P-valueInpatients (n=58)Outpatients (n=3)
S. aureus82460.254344380.508329170.26277570.8447463745 <0.001a433   0.3104
(67.21%)(75.41%) (64.71%)(70.37%) (80.56%)(68.00%) (66.96%)(70.00%) (75.41%) (50.68%)(91.84%) (74.14%)(100.00%)
Coagulase-negative staphylococci130.0739010.2601030.0330a100.76413100.4107300.6862
(0.82%)(4.92%) (0.00%)(1.85%) (0.00%)(12.00%) (0.89%)(0.00%) (4.92%) (1.37%)(0.00%) (5.17%)(0.00%)
E. coli310.7207210.6993100.4008300.60031120.3441100.8186
(2.46%)(1.64%) (2.94%)(1.85%) (2.78%)(0.00%) (2.68%)(0.00%) (1.64%) (1.37%)(4.08%) (1.72%)(0.00%)
Klebsiella sp.2660.0540a16100.5021330.63632420.91586251 <0.001a600.5574
(21.31%)(9.84%) (23.53%)(18.52%) (8.33%)(12.00%) (21.43%)(20.00%) (9.84%) (34.25%)(2.04%) (10.34%)(0.00%)
Proteus sp.110.6151100.3710010.2263100.76411100.4107100.8186
(0.82%)(1.64%) (1.47%)(0.00%) (0.00%)(4.00%) (0.89%)(0.00%) (1.64%) (1.37%)(0.00%) (1.72%)(0.00%)
Enterobacter sp.110.6151100.3710100.4008100.76411100.4107100.8186
(0.82%)(1.64%) (1.47%)(0.00%) (2.78%)(0.00%) (0.89%)(0.00%) (1.64%) (1.37%)(0.00%) (1.72%)(0.00%)
Pseudomonas sp.520.7852320.4294200.2308410.32592410.3476200.7436
(4.10%)(3.28%) (4.41%)(3.70%) (5.56%)(0.00%) (3.57%)(10.00%) (3.28%) (5.48%)(2.04%) (3.45%)(0.00%)
Glucose non-fermenters Gram-negative rods310.7207120.4294010.2263001.00001300.1508100.8186
(2.46%)(1.64%) (1.47%)(3.70%) (0.00%)(4.00%) (0.00%)(0.00%) (1.64%) (4.11%)(0.00%) (1.72%)(0.00%)

{ label (or @symbol) needed for fn[@id='tfn1-mmr-16-06-8771'] } The numbers represent the number of patients infected with the species. Percentages represent the ratio between the number of patients infected with the species and the number of patients in the category.

a Significant difference (P<0.05). S. aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Escherichia coli.

The absolute S. aureus carriage was 35.87%, as 118 out of the 329 patients had S. aureus either in the pharynx or in the nose. In total, 82 patients (27.06%) out of the 303 patients with screened pharyngeal swabs had S. aureus in the throat and 46 patients (35.38%) out of the 130 patients with screened nasal swabs had SA in the nose (Table II). A total of 10 patients had SA both in the throat and nose. Thus, the nasal carrier rate was marginally significantly higher than that in the pharynx (proportion's test, P=0.0820). The absolute MRSA prevalence was 16.72% (55 out of the 329 patients). MRSA was present in the pharyngeal exudates in 35 patients out of the 303 screened patients (11.55%) and in the nasal exudates in 24 screened patients, out of 130 (18.46%). In total, 4 patients (3.85%) had MRSA carriage both in the nose and pharynx. When the MRSA prevalence was expressed as the proportion of staphylococcal isolates, the global rate was then 46.61%, the rate in pharyngeal exudate was 42.68% and that in the nasal exudate was 52.17% (proportion's test, P=0.0547). MORSA strains were isolated from 34 patients (10.33%), and the prevalence rates were 5.61% in the pharyngeal exudates and 13.85% in the nasal exudates (proportion's test, P=0.040). In total, 1 patient (0.96%) had MORSA present both in the nose and pharynx (Table II). Thus, MORSA strains were clearly more prevalent in the nasal swabs, compared with the pharyngeal swabs. It should be noted that all the 7 nasal exudates collected from children were negative (Table I).

Table II.

Carriage rates in the pharynx and nose for the strains of S. aureus, MRSA and MORSA.

Table II.

Carriage rates in the pharynx and nose for the strains of S. aureus, MRSA and MORSA.

StrainPharyngeal carriage (303 patients screened)Nasal carriage (130 patients screened)P-valueDouble carriage (104 patients screened)Global carriage (329 patients screened)
S. aureus colonisation82 (27.06%)46 (35.38%)0.082010 (9.62%)118 (35.87%)
MRSA colonisation35 (11.55/42.68%)a24 (18.46/52.17%)a0.05474 (3.85/40.00%)a55 (16.72/46.61%)
MORSA colonisation17 (5.61/48.57%)b18 (13.85/75.00%)b0.0040c1 (0.96/25.00%)b34 (10.33/61.81%)
Not infected with S. aureus221 (72.94%)84 (64.62%)0.082094 (90.38%)211(64.13%)

a MRSA prevalence is expressed both as a ratio of MRSA-infected patients from the total number of patients and ratio between MRSA-infected patients and patients infected with S. aureus.

b MORSA prevalence is expressed both as a ratio of MORSA-infected patients from the total number of patients and ratio between MORSA-infected patients and patients infected with MRSA.

c Significant difference (P<0.05). S. aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MORSA, methicillin-oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The prevalence of S. aureus colonisation was marginally higher (Chi-square, P=0.1024) in males (40.12%) compared with females (31.48%), and significantly higher (Chi-square, P=0.0225) in adults (38.01%) vs. children (18.92%). The S. aureus colonisation rates did not differ significantly between outpatients and inpatients (Chi-square, P=0.3015) (Table III).

Table III.

Prevalence rates of colonisation with S. aureus, MRSA and MORSA by age, hospitalisation status (inpatient/outpatient), ward type and sex.

Table III.

Prevalence rates of colonisation with S. aureus, MRSA and MORSA by age, hospitalisation status (inpatient/outpatient), ward type and sex.

StrainAdults (292 patients)Children (37 patients)P-valueInpatients (210 patients)Outpatients (119 patients)P-valueICU (99 patients)Non-ICU (230 patients)P-valueMales(167 patients)Females (162 patients)P-value
S. aureus colonisation111 (38.01%)7 (18.92%)0.022571 (33.81%)47 (39.50%)0.301535 (35.35%)83 (35.93%)0.898867 (40.12%)51 (31.48%)0.1024
MRSA colonisation5410.0153c38170.373620350.266437180.0730
(18.49/48.65%)a (2.70/14.29%)a (18.09/53.52%)a (14.29/36.17%)a (20.20/57.14%)a (15.15/42.17%)a (22.16/55.22%)a (11.11/35.29%)a
MORSA colonisation3310.10552770.0458c13210.274223110.0375c
(11.30/29.73%)b (2.70/14.29%)b (12.86/38.03%)b (5.88/14.89%)b (13.13/37.14%)b (9.09/25.30%)b (13.77/34.33%)b (6.79/21.57%)b
Not infected with S. aureus181 (61.99%)30 (81.08%)0.0225c139 (66.19%)72 (60.50%)0.301564 (64.65%)146 (64.07%)0.8988100 (59.88%)111 (68.52%)0.1024

a MRSA prevalence is expressed both as a ratio of MRSA-infected patients from the total number of patients and ratio between MRSA-infected patients and patients infected with S. aureus.

b MORSA prevalence is expressed both as a ratio of MORSA-infected patients from the total number of patients and ratio between MORSA infected patients and patients infected with MRSA.

c Significant difference (P<0.05). S. aureus, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MORSA, methicillin-oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

A marked difference in MRSA prevalence in adults was observed, as this was >3-fold higher than that in children, with a significant difference (P=0.0225). In addition, MRSA was more frequent in inpatients, compared with outpatients (P=0.0458). No significant difference was observed in MRSA prevalence between intensive care unit (ICU) patients and patients in other wards of the hospital (P=0.2664) (Table III).

The MORSA prevalence as a proportion of SA isolates was 61.81% of the isolated S. aureus strains (Table II). A marked difference in MORSA prevalence was observed in adults (11.30%), which was almost 2-fold higher than that in children (2.70%), although the differene was not statistically significant (P=0.1055). In additoin, MORSA prevalence was significantlymore frequent (P=0.0458) in inpatients (12.86%), compared with outpatients (5.88%). No significant difference was observed in MORSA prevalence between ICU patients and patients in other wards of the hospital (P=0.2742) (Table III).

Resistance of SA strains

The median multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index of the SA strains was 33.33% (Table IV). As expected, the median MAR of MRSA was higher than that of MSSA (45.45 vs. 18.75%) and the median MAR of MORSA was even higher (57.14%), as was expected (Table IV). The median MAR of the inpatients was clearly higher than the median MAR of the outpatients (42.86 vs. 30.77%, P=0.0006). In addition, ICU patients had a higher median MAR that non-ICU patients (42.41 vs. 33.56%, P=0.0410). No statistically significant differences in the median MAR were observed between adults and children (35.71 vs. 21.43%, P=0.2484) or between females and males (30.77 vs. 38.46%, P=0.3707) (Fig. 2). We observed an increased MAR in the inpatients compared with the outpatients, both for MRSA strains (53.33% vs. 30.77%, P=0.0024) and MORSA strains (61.25% vs. 50.00%, P=0.0250) (Table IV).

Table IV.

The median multiple antibiotics resistance index of the isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA and MORSA by age group, hospitalization status, ward type and sex.

Table IV.

The median multiple antibiotics resistance index of the isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA and MORSA by age group, hospitalization status, ward type and sex.

All 329 patientsAdults (292 patients)Children (37 patients)P-valueInpatients (210 patients)Outpatients (119 patients)P-valueICU (99 patients)Non-ICU (230 patients)P-valueMales (167 patients)Females (162 patients)P-value
S. aureus33.33%35.71%21.43%0.248442.86%30.77%0.0006a42.86%33.33%0.0410a38.46%30.77%0.3707
MRSA45.45%44.60%62.50%b53.33%30.77%0.0024a44.16%46.15%0.125643.75%47.73%0.5821
MSSA18.75%18.75%19.05%0.345624.05%18.18%0.237015.39%24.05%0.566222.42%18.75%0.4353
MORSA57.14%55.49%62.50%b61.25%50.00%0.0250a69.05%53.33%0.105055.24%60.00%0.7080

a Significant difference (p<0.05).

b The statistical test could not be performed as there was only one children with colonization by a MORSA strain that it was also a MRSA strain. MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MORSA, methicillin-oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MSSA, methicillin susceptible strains; ICU, Intensive Care Unit; S. aureus, Staphylococcus aureus.

The multivariate analysis of MRSA infection (Table V) revealed a higher risk for males (OR=2.16, P=0.050) and patients aged >50 years (OR=3.38, P=0.048). Surprisingly hospitalisation in the ICU ward or the patient type (ambulatory or inpatient) had no significant influence on the rate of MRSA colonisation.

Table V.

Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis on the resistance index of MRSA strains, and risk of acquiring MRSA and MORSA.

Table V.

Results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis on the resistance index of MRSA strains, and risk of acquiring MRSA and MORSA.

Risk factor

Resistance index analysisChance to acquire MRSAChance to acquire MORSA



CoefficientP-valueOdds ratioP-valueOdds ratioP-value
Sex
  Males vs. females0.0170.6812.160.050a0.6110.467
Age group
  <30 years−0.3760.027a3.0400.2431
  30–39 years0.1520.1582.0960.4630.0820.209
  40–49 years−0.0240.8291.6820.6201
  >50 years−0.0720.2553.3820.048a0.3230.368
Patient type
  Inpatients vs. outpatients0.2920.0080.7460.62218.920.025a
Ward type
  ICU vs. non-ICU0.0040.9371.1410.7840.4870.379
Constant0.25700.2970.0031.1840.807

a Significant difference (P<0.05). MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; MORSA, methicillin-oxacillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; ICU, intensive care unit.

Only the state of hospitalised patients greatly increased the MORSA rate (OR=18.92%, P=0.025) (Table V). The sex and age of the patients had no influence in this case.

The regression of the resistance index of MRSA revealed that a young age (<30 years) (beta coefficient=-0.376, P=0.027) and hospitalisation (beta coefficient=0.292, P=0.008) had a significant impact on the antibiotic resistance of MRSA (Table V).

The resistances to individual antibiotics presented significant differences between the categories of patients in a few cases. When comparing the antibiotic resistances in adults vs. children, these were increased in adults for clarithromycin (60.87 vs. 28.57%; Chi-square test, P=0.0920) and increased in children for oxacillin (57.14 vs. 100%, P=0.0250). The antibiotic resistance was markedly increased in inpatients compared to outpatients for ciprofloxacin (37.33 vs. 4.35%, P<0.0001), gentamycin (27.63 vs. 4.17%, P=0.0012), rifampin (28.36 vs. 0%, P<0.0001), oxacillin (75.00 vs. 50.00%, P=0.084 and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (46.88 vs. 21.43%, P=0.0050). The antibiotic resistances of strains isolated from ICU patients were higher compared with those isolated from non-ICU patients for gentamycin (31.71 vs. 12.05%; proportion's test, P=0.0109) and oxacillin (100 vs. 50.00%; proportion's test, P<0.0001) (Table VI).

Table VI.

Antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Table VI.

Antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strains.

AntibioticGlobal (128 strains)Adults (111 strains)Children (7 strains)P-valueInpatients (71 strains)Outpatients (47 strains)P-valueICU (35 strains)Non-ICU (83 strains)P-valueMales (67 strains)Females (51 strains)P-value
Ciprofloxacin24.79%25.00%14.28%0.521637.33%4.35% <0.001a32.50%20.99%0.183625.37%24.53%0.9169
Clarithromycin59.02%60.87%28.57%0.092059.21%58.70%0.956062.50%57.32%0.601564.29%51.92%0.1760
Clindamycin56.91%57.76%42.86%0.440158.44%54.35%0.660652.50%59.04%0.512158.90%54.00%0.5945
Erythromycin61.34%61.61%57.14%0.813864.86%55.56%0.310262.50%60.76%0.859363.77%58.00%0.5239
Gentamycin18.55%18.64%14.28%0.772727.63%4.17%0.0012a31.71%12.05%a0.0109a19.18%17.65%0.8321
Oxacillin62.50%57.14%100%0.0250a74.65%51.06%0.0084a100%50.60% <0.001a74.62%50.98%0.0079a
Penicillin91.60%92.86%71.43%0.0476a90.67%93.18%0.629192.50%91.14%0.808495.59%86.27%0.0712
Rifampin19.00%20.43%0.00%0.183328.36%0.00%0.0001a25.71%15.38%0.186322.03%14.63%0.3084
Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim36.79%36.00%57.14%0.261946.88%21.43%0.0050a43.33%34.21%0.348443.33%28.26%0.0927
Tetracycline58.00%58.95%42.86%0.402964.18%45.45%0.0444a65.79%53.23%0.208270.91%42.22%0.0017a

a Significant difference (P<0.05). ICU, intensive care unit.

We also analysed the resistance phenotypes, based upon resistance to key antibiotics (Table VII). For MSSA, the most prevalent phenotype was that resistant only to penicillin, followed by a phenotype resistant to penicillin, clindamycin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, erythromycin and tetracycline. For MRSA, the most prevalent phenotype was that resistant only to penicillin and cefoxitin, followed by a phenotype with an additional resistance to clindamycin.

Table VII.

Resistance phenotypes in MSSA and MRSA.

Table VII.

Resistance phenotypes in MSSA and MRSA.

A, MSSA resistance patterns

MSSA resistance profileNo. (%)
PEN16 (23.53)
CLI CLR DOX ERY PEN TCY8 (11.76)
ERY PEN3 (4.41)
CLR ERY2 (2.94)
CIP CLI CSL DOX MFX PEN SXT TCY2 (2.94)
CLR TCY2 (2.94)
CLI CLR ERY PEN2 (2.94)
PEN SXT2 (2.94)
Wild-type2 (2.94)
CLR ERY SXT TCY1 (1.47)
CLI PEN1 (1.47)
CHL CLI CLR DOX ERY PEN SXT1 (1.47)
CLI CLR ERY PEN RIF1 (1.47)
CIP CLI CLR DOX ERY MFX PEN RIF TCY1 (1.47)
CIP CLI CLR DOX ERY PEN SXT TCY1 (1.47)
CIP CLI CLR DOX ERY SXT TCY1 (1.47)
PEN RIF SXT1 (1.47)
CIP CLI CLR DOX PEN TCY1 (1.47)
CLI CLR PEN1 (1.47)
CLR CSL ERY PEN SXT1 (1.47)
CHL CIP CLI CLR DOX ERY MFX PEN TCY1 (1.47)
CIP CLI MFX SXT1 (1.47)
DOX ERY PEN SXT TCY1 (1.47)
DOX TCY1 (1.47)
CIP CLR ERY MFX PEN SXT1 (1.47)
PEN TCY1 (1.47)
CHL CLI1 (1.47)
CIP PEN RIF SXT TCY1 (1.47)
CLI CLR ERY PEN SXT1 (1.47)
TCY1 (1.47)
CHL CLI CLR DOX ERY PEN RIF TCY1 (1.47)
DOX ERY SXT1 (1.47)
CHL CIP CLI DOX ERY MFX PEN TCY1 (1.47)
CHL CLI CLR ERY PEN TCY1 (1.47)
CLI CLR DOX ERY PEN1 (1.47)
PEN RIF1 (1.47)
CLI CLR DOX ERY PEN SXT TCY1 (1.47)
SXT1 (1.47)
Total68 (100)

B, MRSA resistance patterns

MRSA resistance profileNo. (%)

FOX PEN5 (8.33)
CLI FOX PEN4 (6.67)
CLI CLR DOX ERY FOX PEN TCY3 (5.)
CLI CLR DOX ERY FOX PEN SXT TCY3 (5.)
CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN TCY2 (3.33)
CLR ERY FOX PEN2 (3.33)
CIP CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN RIF SXT TCY2 (3.33)
CIP CLI CLR DOX ERY FOX PEN SXT TCY2 (3.33)
CLI CLR ERY FOX PEN2 (3.33)
CIP CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CIP CLI CLR CSL DOX FOX MFX PEN RIF TCY1 (1.67)
CHL CIP CLI CLR DOX ERY FOX PEN SXT1 (1.67)
CLR DOX FOX PEN1 (1.67)
DOX FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CHL CIP CSL ERY FOX MFX PEN RIF SXT1 (1.67)
CIP CLI CLR ERY FOX MFX PEN SXT1 (1.67)
CIP CLI CLR ERY FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CHL CLI CLR DOX ERY FOX SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CIP CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX MFX PEN RIF SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CIP CLR DOX ERY FOX MFX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
CIP CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX MFX PEN SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CIP CSL ERY FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CLI CLR ERY FOX1 (1.67)
CIP DOX FOX PEN SXT1 (1.67)
CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CHL CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX MFX RIF SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN RIF TCY1 (1.67)
CLR CSL ERY FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CLR DOX ERY FOX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
CHL CIP CLI CSL DOX ERY FOX MFX PEN RIF SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CHL CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX PEN RIF1 (1.67)
CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX RIF SXT TCY1 (1.67)
CLR ERY FOX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
CLI CLR CSL ERY FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CLI CLR DOX ERY FOX1 (1.67)
DOX FOX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
ERY FOX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
CHL CIP CLI DOX FOX PEN1 (1.67)
CHL CIP CLI CLR CSL DOX ERY FOX MFX PEN RIF1 (1.67)
SXT TCY
CHL CIP CLI CSL DOX FOX MFX PEN RIF SXT1 (1.67)
CLI CLR DOX FOX PEN RIF TCY1 (1.67)
CLI CLR DOX FOX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
CLI CLR CSL DOX FOX PEN TCY1 (1.67)
Total60 (100)

[i] PEN, penicilin; CLI, clindamycin; CLR, clarithromicin; DOX, doxicycline; ERY, erythromycin; FOX, cefoxitin; TCY, tetracycline; CIP, ciprofloxacin; CSL, cefoperasone/sulbactam; MFX, moxifloxacin; SXT, sulfamethoxazole/thrimethoprim; CHL, cloramfenicol; RIF, rifampin; MSSA, methicillin-susceptible strains; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

We also performed a hierarchical clustering analysis of the strains based upon the diameters of inhibition zones in the Kirby-Bauer antibiotic susceptibility testing method (Fig. 3). We observed 3 main groups: One very sensitive that was hypothesised to be the MSSA strains, one with intermediate resistance could be the ‘sensitive MRSA’ strains that are generally community-acquired, which was the largest group, and the third group with the greatest resistance that could be regarded as HA-MRSA.

Discussion

Due to the high prevalence rate of SA colonisation in the pharynx and nasal cavity in the general population, the ratio between the number of multidrug-resistant strains of SA over the total number of SA strains is used in the literature as a more accurate measure of colonisation with resistant staphylococci. In patients with facial acne, these can become infected with the Staphylococci from the pharynx and nasal cavity and this could lead to a form resistant to treatment (13). In some patients, these cases of resistance strains may be associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (14).

It should be noted that although the SA carriage rates did not differ significantly between the pharyngeal and nasal cavities, the MRSA and MORSA rates were significantly higher in the nasal cavity. The MORSA carriage rate in the nasal cavity was 13.85%, almost 3-fold higher than the carriage rate in the pharynx (5.61%). Our results revealed that the MRSA nasal carriage rate (18.46%) was higher than the pharyngeal carriage rate (11.55%). This ratio is similar with rates recorded in hospitals from the United States (15). A surprisingly low number of patients (10; 9.62%) had SA carriage in both sites, which in our opinion, can partly be explained by the lower number of nasal swabs collected and by the application of decolonisation procedures to patients admitted to our hospital. Nevertheless, the failure of nasal decolonization procedures with clorhexidin and mupirocin has been reported in patients that also have pharyngeal colonization with SA. A probable explaination for this is that pharyngeal strains become resistant to agents used for decolonization (that are detected in low concentrations in the pharynx after nasal application) (16) and then re-colonise the nasal cavities (17).

The pharynx also constitutes a SA reservoir. Pharyngeal colonisation can be cleared only by oropharyngeal decolonisation applied concomitantly with nasal decolonisation or systemic antibiotherapy. Recolonisation has been reported with the same SA strain after decolonisation (17). Probably, the sources for recolonisation are other carriage sites, such as the throat, or the patient's environment. The elimination of S. aureus from extranasal sites has been proposed in order to increase the efficiency of future treatment regimens. Repeated treatments have as a consequence the development of resistance to mupirocin (18).

There are growing concerns about the routine use of antibiotherapy in hospitalised patients. In this study, 3 inpatients had fungal infections with Candida spp., 2 in the pharynx and one in the nasal cavity. The prevalence of fungal infections obtained by us (0.91%) (data not shown) was surprisingly low compared with a previous study (19). This may be explained by the fact that screening samples were used, and the majority of the patients did not suffer from major conditions that can lower the immunity in order to favorise fungal infections.

The acquired resistance of S. aureus has been the focus of several publications, especially after penicillin began to be used in the middle of the past century, regarding MRSA epidemiology and its resistance to penicillin. Transmission mainly occurs in hospitals (2022). The excessive use of antibiotics in hospitals is considered a major risk in the guidelines of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) (23). A revised infection control guideline from 2013 (24) to prevent MRSA expansion includes the limited use of glycopeptides, cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones.

As regards surveilance, a complex aspect is the fact that, as regards MRSA, it has been demonstrated that hospitals are the main place of occurrence for multi-resistant S. aureus, which is now known as MRSA (25). International studies over the past 20 years have shown the rising prevalence of MRSA (26 and refs therein). The theory that the highest occurrence occurs in patients that are drug abusers or persons that undergo hemodialysis has been refuted. Initially, the first reports of MRSA were in large hospitals (>500 beds) in 1980 (27). However, MRSA was also later found in smaller ones.

Future studies are warranted in order to determine the factors that lead to the transition from MSSA to MRSA. The shift from MSSA to MRSA occurs very rapidly (within 24–48 h) in patients that are hospitalised. Thus, both the particulars of the organism and the onset of the infection contradict the cross-transmission as the first main cause for the appearance of MRSA in the hospital environment. Another factor that argues against cross-transmission is the large number of different strains discovered (28). The effect of specific antibiotics on MRSA strains has been previously analysed (29). It was shown that the resistance level of MRSA in patients who received antibiotic therapy was 2-fold compared to that in those who did not undergo antibiotic treatment (30). It has also been shown that the higher risk was associated with the use of quinolones, seconded by the use of glycopeptides, cephalosporins and other β-lactams (31).

In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the pattern of distribution of nasal and pharyngeal colonisation with SA, MRSA and MORSA in various categories of patients, which can be used for adjusting the screening and decontamination protocols in our hospital. The antibiotic resistance pattern of SA strains demonstrated a high resistance of MRSA and MORSA strains, probably driven by antibiotic use. Resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, clindamycin and clarithromycin was high and consequently, these drugs are not recommended for the empirical therapy of S. aureus infections. S. aureus is a pervasive pathogen with constantly changing trends in resistance and epidemiology, and thus requires constant monitoring in healthcare facilities.

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December-2017
Volume 16 Issue 6

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Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Ungureanu A, Zlatian O, Mitroi G, Drocaş A, Ţîrcă T, Călina D, Dehelean C, Docea AO, Izotov BN, Rakitskii VN, Rakitskii VN, et al: Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in patients from a primary regional hospital. Mol Med Rep 16: 8771-8780, 2017
APA
Ungureanu, A., Zlatian, O., Mitroi, G., Drocaş, A., Ţîrcă, T., Călina, D. ... Găman, A. (2017). Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in patients from a primary regional hospital. Molecular Medicine Reports, 16, 8771-8780. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7746
MLA
Ungureanu, A., Zlatian, O., Mitroi, G., Drocaş, A., Ţîrcă, T., Călina, D., Dehelean, C., Docea, A. O., Izotov, B. N., Rakitskii, V. N., Cioboată, R., Spandidos, D. A., Tsatsakis, A. M., Găman, A."Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in patients from a primary regional hospital". Molecular Medicine Reports 16.6 (2017): 8771-8780.
Chicago
Ungureanu, A., Zlatian, O., Mitroi, G., Drocaş, A., Ţîrcă, T., Călina, D., Dehelean, C., Docea, A. O., Izotov, B. N., Rakitskii, V. N., Cioboată, R., Spandidos, D. A., Tsatsakis, A. M., Găman, A."Staphylococcus aureus colonisation in patients from a primary regional hospital". Molecular Medicine Reports 16, no. 6 (2017): 8771-8780. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.7746