Usefulness of PCR-RFLP coa gene for clonal classification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in tertiary hospitals

Abstract

One hundred and one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates were classified into 10 genotypes based on their polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) coa pattern. PCR-RFLP coa patterns correlated with the clonal complex (CC) with the exception of CC5, which was related to 2 patterns (B and E). The PCR-RFLP coa gene technique provides a useful preliminary method to monitor variations in MRSA populations.

Keywords::

• MRSA
• spa typing
• PCR-RFLP
• coa gene

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

This work was supported by the Department of Science and Technology and Universities of the regional government of Aragon, Spain (Project DGA-FSE/Consolidated groups, B24-211130)