Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important pathogens that cause a wide range of hospital and community-acquired infections worldwide. In the present study, the Multiplex PCR test was employed to detect the genes 16S rRNA (Staphylococcus genus specific), femA (encoding a factor essential for methicillin resistance), mecA (encoding high-level methicillin resistant) and lukS gene (encoding Panton-Valentine leukocidin [PVL]). The results showed that all isolates harbored the 16S rRNA. Fifty-six (56 %) of these were determined as methicillin-resistant S. aureus, while 21 (70 %) were methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. 9% of S. aureus isolates harbored the lukS gene. This multiplex PCR assay represents a simple, rapid, reliable approach for the detection of methicillin-resistant staphylococci, evaluate the frequency of virulence factor in community- associated MRSA and discrimination of S. aureus from CoNS isolates.
coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS), Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL), Multiplex PCR, Methicillin
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