• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.86-91
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• 2010

We evaluated the performance of a novel screening test, PBP2a MRSA rapid kit (Dinona Inc., Iksan, Korea), for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) based on a immunochromatographic assay. The test is able to detect penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) using the nasal specimens from health care workers. The nasal specimens were obtained from 69 healthcare workers and were incubated in enrichment broth followed eight hours incubatin in BHI with cefoxitin $4{\mu}g/mL$. These broth were tested by PBP2a Rapid Kit. The enrichment broths were also directly tested for tube coagulase using the conventional identification method. 19 of 22 MRSA showed positive results by PBP2a rapid test and direct coagulase test (the sensitivity for detection of MRSA, 86.36%). While, 8 of 47 non-MRSA showed false positive results for the two tests. All of the 8 non-MRSA which showed false positive were co-colonizing isolates with MRCNS and MSSA. In addition, 46 of 49 methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) showed positive results for PBP2a MRSA rapid kit (the sensitivity for detection of MRS, 93.8%), and all of 20 non-MRS showed negative results (specificity, 100%). The combination of PBP2a MRSA rapid kit and direct coagulase test showed the good sensitivity for detection of MRSA from anterior nares but frequently showed false positive results from the co-colonizing carrier with MRCNS and MSSA.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2016

Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a worldwide concern. We present a case of a 12-year-old child with IE of the native mitral valve due to MRSA infection after an invasive dental procedure. Based on the clinical symptoms and the presence of cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis, the patient was initially diagnosed with presumed bacterial meningitis and treated with empiric antibiotics. On the third day of hospitalization, MRSA was cultured from the initial blood samples and vegetation was observed on the mitral valve during an echocardiogram, findings which are compatible with a diagnosis of IE. The revised guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of IE advise that IE prophylaxis for dental procedures is reasonable only for patients with underlying cardiac conditions, who are at the highest risk of adverse outcomes from IE. However, in this case, the patient had no high risk factors indicative of IE prophylaxis, except for mitral valve prolapse. She had no recurrence of IE over a follow-up period of 12 months.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1537-1546
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• 2022

Staphylococcus aureus is a cause of high mortality in humans and therefore it is necessary to prevent its transmission and reduce infections. Our goals in this research were to investigate the frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, and assess the relationship between the phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity patterns and the genes responsible for resistance. In addition, we examined the antimicrobial efficiency and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against MRSA isolates. Seventy-two nasal swabs were taken from patients; MRSA was cultivated on Mannitol Salt Agar supplemented with methicillin, and 16S rRNA sequencing was conducted in addition to morphological and biochemical identification. Specific resistance genes such as ermAC, aacA-aphD, tetKM, vatABC and mecA were PCR-amplified and resistance plasmids were also investigated. The MRSA incidence was ~49 % among the 72 S. aureus isolates and all MRSA strains were resistant to oxacillin, penicillin, and cefoxitin. However, vancomycin, linezolid, teicoplanin, mupirocin, and rifampicin were effective against 100% of MRSA strains. About 61% of MRSA strains exhibited multidrug resistance and were resistant to 3-12 antimicrobial medications (MDR). Methicillin resistance gene mecA was presented in all MDR-MRSA strains. Most MDR-MRSA contained a plasmid of > 10 kb. To overcome bacterial resistance, AgNPs were applied and displayed high antimicrobial activity and synergistic effect with penicillin. Our findings may help establish programs to control bacterial spread in communities as AgNPs appeared to exert a synergistic effect with penicillin to control bacterial resistance.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2009

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a leading cause of nosocomial infections, has been increasingly recognized in communities of the United States. This article will review the clinical spectrum and treatment of MRSA infections in children in the context of recent epidemiological changes of MRSA infections. In general, community-associated (CA) MRSA most frequently causes skin and soft tissue infections and has an increased association with invasive infections, particularly pneumonia and musculoskeletal infections. Hospital-associated (HA) MRSA strains tend to be associated with bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and surgical site infections. Different from the United States, CA-MRSA infections are not common in Korea (only 5.9%); however, there are some CA-MRSA clones that are different from HA-MRSA clones in Korea and from CA-MRSA clones in other countries. The treatment of MRSA infections should be guided by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, the site of infection, and the infection severity. Vancomycin is the treatment of choice for invasive MRSA infections. Other agents such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, clindamycin, linezolid, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and daptomycin have been used for some conditions.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2007

This study was conducted in an effort to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and antibiotic-resistant gene regulation from Saliva miltiorrhiza Bunge on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A variety of solvent fractions and methanol extracts of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge were tested in order to determine its antimicrobial activities against S. aureus and MRSA. As a result, the hexane fraction of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge evidenced the highest levels of antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and MRSA. The MICs of the hexane fraction against various MRSA specimens were $64. The hexane fraction evidenced inhibitory effects superior to those of the chloroform fraction. The results showed inhibition zones of hexane (16 mm) and chloroform (14 mm) fractions against MRSA KCCM 40511 at $1,000{\mu}g/disc$. The hexane and chloroform fractions inhibited the expression of the resistant genes, mecA, mecR1, and femA in mRNA. Moreover, the results of Western blotting assays indicated that the hexane and chloroform fractions inhibited the expression of the resistant protein, PBP2a. These results reveal that the hexane and chloroform fractions of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge may prove to be a valuable choice for studies targeted toward the development of new antimicrobial agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1039-1046
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• 2005

The salt resistance of antibacterial activity and synergistic effect with clinically used antibiotic agents are critical factors in developing effective peptide antibiotic drugs. For this reason, we investigated the resistance of antibacterial activity to antagonism induced by NaCl and $MgCl_2$ and the synergistic effect of P20 with cefotaxime. P20 is a 20-residue synthetic peptide derived from a cecropin A (CA)-melittin(ME) hybrid peptide. In this study, P20 was found to have potent antibacterial activity against clinically isolated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains without hemolytic activity against human erythrocytes. The combination study revealed that P20 in combination with cefotaxime showed synergistic antibacterial activity in an energy-dependent manner. We also confirmed the synergism between P20 and cefotaxime by fluorescence-activated flow cytometric analysis by staining bacterial cells with propidium iodide (PI) and bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol (BOX). This study suggests that P20 may be useful as a therapeutic antibiotic peptide with synergistic effect in combination with conventional antibiotic agents.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.1059-1064
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• 2014

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen, implicated in both community and hospital acquired infections. The therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is becoming more difficult because of multidrug resistance and strong biofilm-forming properties. Schiff bases have attracted attention as promising antibacterial agents. In this study, we investigated the in vitro activity of taurine-5-bromosalicylaldehyde Schiff base (TBSSB) against MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using a microtiter broth dilution method. TBSSB effectively inhibited planktonic MRSA, with an MIC of $32{\mu}g/ml$. The time-kill curve confirmed that TBSSB exhibited bactericidal activity against MRSA. TBSSB was also found to significantly inhibit MRSA biofilm formation at 24 h, especially at $1{\times}MIC$ and sub-MIC levels. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed remarkable morphological and ultrastructural changes on the MRSA cell surface, due to exposure to TBSSB. This study indicated that TBSSB may be an effective bactericidal agent against MRSA.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.96-99
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• 2016

Survival rates of preterm infants have improved in the past few decades, and central venous catheters play an important role in the intensive medical treatment of these neonates. Unfortunately, these indwelling catheters increase the risk of intracardiac thrombosis, and they provide a nidus for microorganisms during the course of septicemia. Herein, we report a case of persistent bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infant, along with vegetation observed on an echocardiogram, the findings which are compatible with a diagnosis of endocarditis. The endocarditis was successfully treated with antibiotic therapy, and the patient recovered without major complications. We suggest a surveillance echocardiogram for ELBW infants within a few days of birth, with regular follow-up studies when clinical signs of sepsis are observed.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to evaluate the photodynamic effect of various photosensitizing agents against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA was exposed to light from a 632 urn diode laser (15 J/$cm^2$) in the presence of various photosensitizer, such as photofrin, photogem, radachlorine and ALA. In vivo study was performed using ICR mice. Twenty eight mice had a standard wound ($100\;mm^2$) created on the dorsum, and MRSA was inoculated into the wound region. The four groups were classified as follows: (1) the untreated control group (bacteria alone), (2) the bacteria plus light group (15 J/$cm^2$), (3) the bacteria plus photofrin group (kept in the dark), and (4) the photodynamic therapy (PDT) group (bacteria, photofrin, and light). After photofrin (dose 1 mg/kg) injection, the experimental group was irradiated with 632 urn diode laser (15 J/$cm^2$) for 30 minutes after In vitro results of PDT showed the complete killing of MRSA at the photofrin, radachlorine, and photogem However, ALA-PDT was ineffective on MRSA viability. In vivo results showed that photofrin has therapeutic effect on the wound infection. These results demonstrate that selective lethal photosensitization of MRSA can be achieved using phofrin, photogem and radachlorin. Thus, PDT can inactivate MRSA survival.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.886-893
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• 2012

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a cephalosporin and beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strain. In most cases, MRSA is spread from infected patients and infection rates are growing increasingly. Furthermore, increased resistance to antibiotics is causing serious problems in the world. Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for both nosocomial and community-based infections that range from relatively minor skin and soft tissue infections to life-threatening systemic infections. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, we investigated antimicrobial activity of oriental medicine prescription against MRSA. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Sohamhyung-tang water extract against S. aureus strains ranged from 500 to 2,000 ${\mu}g/mL$, so we have it confirmed that a strong antibacterial effect. Also, the combinations of Sohamhyung-tang water extract and conventional antibiotics exhibited improved inhibition of MRSA with synergy effect. We suggest that Sohamhyung-tang water extract against MRSA have antibacterial activity, it has potential as alternatives to antibiotic agent. We suggest that the Sohamhyung-tang water extract lead the treatment of bacterial infection to solve the resistance and remaining side-effect problems that are the major weak points of traditional antibiotics.