Molecular characterisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated at a large referral hospital in Zambia

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) is globally recognized as an important public health problem. Whereas comprehensive molecular typing data of MRSA strains is available, particularly in Europe, North America and Australia, similar information is very limited in sub-Saharan Africa including Zambia. In this study, thirty two clinical isolates of , collected at a large referral hospital in Lusaka, Zambia between June 2009 and December 2012 were analysed by Staphylococcal cassette chromosome protein A gene typing and detection of the Panton-Valentine Leukocidin genes . Three SCC types were identified namely SCC type IV (65.6%), SCCmec type III (21.9%), SCC type I (3.1%). Nine point four percent (9.4%) of the isolates were untypable. Five types, which included a novel type, were detected and the most prevalent spa type was t064 (40.6%). Other types included spa types t2104 (31.3%), t355 (3.1%) and t1257 (21.9%). The genes were detected in 3 out of 32 isolates. These molecular typing data indicated that the MRSA strains collected in Lusaka were diverse. Although the source of these MRSA was not established, these results stress the need for assessing infection prevention and control procedures at this health-care facility in order to curtail possible nosocomial infections. Furthermore, country-wide surveillance of MRSA in both the community and health-care facilities is recommended for infection prevention and control. To our knowledge, this represents the first study to characterise MRSA using molecular tools in Zambia.