Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis carrying biofilm formation genes: detection of clinical isolates by multiplex PCR

Authors

  • Natalia L.P. Iorio
  • Milena B. Azevedo
  • Vanessa H. Frazão
  • Ariane G. Barcellos
  • Elaine M. Barros
  • Eliezer M. Pereira
  • Cláudio S. de Mattos S. de Mattos
  • Kátia R. N. dos Santos

Keywords:

Staphylococcus epidermidis, molecular identification, methicillin resistance gene, biofilm formation genes, multiplex PCR

Abstract

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most prevalent coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) and is a major cause of hospital bacteremia. Based on 18 reference strains and 149 Staphylococcus clinical strains, used in a novel multiplex PCR method, the aim of this study was to identify S. epidermidis with respect to the sequence of three genes: recN, which encodes a recombination/repair protein, mecA (methicillin resistance), and icaAB, which is involved in biofilm formation. Amplicons of 219 bp (S. epidermidis-recN gene), 154 bp (mecA gene), and 546 bp (icaAB genes) were obtained. Reliable
results were achieved for 100% of the evaluated strains, suggesting that this new multiplex-PCR approach could be useful for
the accurate identification of methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis with the potential to produce biofilm. [Int Microbiol 2011;
14(1):13-17]

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Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2011)

Section

Research Articles

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