Emergence of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus lugdunensis carrying staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type V in central Taiwan

Background Staphylococcus lugdunensis has emerged as a key pathogen for clinical infection. It is sensitive to most antistaphylococcal agents, but it is increasingly resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. Oxacillin-resistant S. lugdunensis isolates carrying the mecA gene pose a major concern for therapy failure. Methods To assess the epidemiology and presence of mecA in S. lugdunensis , we gauged the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of S. lugdunensis in clinical specimens by using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results Thirty S. lugdunensis isolates were collected and examined between October 2009 and December 2010. The resistance to penicillin (87%) and oxacillin (20%) was noted. All oxacillin-resistant isolates (6/30) had type V or VT SCC mec . Most (67%, 4/6) isolates carried SCC mec type V. These organisms caused invasive infections such as peritonitis, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analyses showed most (83%, 5/6) isolates carrying mecA were pulsotype D with high similarity (93.8%). Conclusions The findings suggest oxacillin-resistant S. lugdunensis carrying SCC mec type V is emerging in central Taiwan.