Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Transmitted between Patients with Buruli Ulcer

Nana Ama Amissah; Monika A Chlebowicz; Anthony Ablordey; Artur J Sabat; Caitlin S Tetteh; Isaac Prah; Tjip S van der Werf; Alex W Friedrich; Jan Maarten van Dijl; John W Rossen; Ymkje Stienstra

doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0004049

Molecular Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus Isolates Transmitted between Patients with Buruli Ulcer

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2015 Sep 11;9(9):e0004049. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004049. eCollection 2015.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
² Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine/Infectious Diseases, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.

Abstract

Background: Buruli ulcer (BU) is a skin infection caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. The wounds of most BU patients are colonized with different microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus.

Methodology: This study investigated possible patient-to-patient transmission events of S. aureus during wound care in a health care center. S. aureus isolates from different BU patients with overlapping visits to the clinic were whole-genome sequenced and analyzed by a gene-by-gene approach using SeqSphere(+) software. In addition, sequence data were screened for the presence of genes that conferred antibiotic resistance.

Principal findings: SeqSphere(+) analysis of whole-genome sequence data confirmed transmission of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and methicillin susceptible S. aureus among patients that took place during wound care. Interestingly, our sequence data show that the investigated MRSA isolates carry a novel allele of the fexB gene conferring chloramphenicol resistance, which had thus far not been observed in S. aureus.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Buruli Ulcer / complications*
Carrier State / epidemiology
Carrier State / microbiology*
Carrier State / transmission*
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross Infection
DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
DNA, Bacterial / genetics
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Genetic Variation*
Genotype
Health Facilities
Humans
Molecular Epidemiology
Molecular Sequence Data
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
Staphylococcal Infections / transmission*
Staphylococcus aureus / classification*
Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification

Substances

DNA, Bacterial

Grants and funding

NAA was supported by fellowships from the Graduate School for Medical Sciences of the University of Groningen. YS was supported by a VENI grant from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and the Gratama foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.