Molecular characterization of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Tehran

To determine the prevalence and some genetic characteristics of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin. A total of 414 isolates of S. aureus were collected from clinical specimens from hospitals in Tehran. Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) was determined by brain heart infusion agar containing 4 μg/mL vancomycin screening plate and confirmed via E-test. VISA isolates were analysed for vanA, vanB, mecA, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec types, surface protein A (Spa) types and agr specific groups. Brain heart infusion agar containing 4 μg/mL vancomycin screening tests revealed that 17.14% (n = 71) of S. aureus isolates were VISA phenotype. Ten of the 71 isolates were confirmed by E-test method (minimal inhibitory concentration was 4 to 8 μg/mL). All VISA isolates were susceptible to linezolid and 6 isolates (60%) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Five isolates belonged to agr Group II, 4 belonged to agr Group I and 1 belonged to agr Group III. Spa type t030, and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec Type III were dominant among VISA isolates. This study provides further evidence of the global dissemination of VISA isolates and emphasizes to vancomycin susceptibility testing prior to antibiotic therapy.