Evaluation of the role of bla genes in beta lactam and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Bacterial resistance to multiple antibiotics has become a global concern. Emergence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains as causatives of a lot of infections is a threat to the effectiveness of the most important treatment options available for clinicians. While a powerful arsenal of antibiotics was once capable of treating most infections, in early 1970s, clinical isolates of MRSA have emerged to numerous antibiotics usually used for their treatment. In this study, phenotypic characterization of MRSA isolates by conventional methods and genetically in PCR technique, study the prevalence of mecA and blaZ genes within isolated MRSA. One hundred and nineteen clinical samples from different hospitals in El-Sharkia Governerate, Egypt were randomly collected. Most of these samples were from wounds. Samples were collected from different wards and ICUs. Isolates were cultured on selective media such as blood-agar, mannitol salt agar and Baired-Parker agar. Sixty six isolates were identified as S. aureus, the identification was confirmed by Gram-stain, catalase and coagulase test.