Open Access
Research (Published online: 28-11-2017)
12. Mingling of human and veterinary strains of Staphylococcus aureus: An emerging issue in health-care systems
Sara Giordana Rimoldi, Annamaria Di Gregorio, Vittorio Sala, Eleonora De Faveri, Cristina Pagani, Pietro Olivieri, Claudio Savi, Anna Lisa Ridolfo, Antona Carlo and Maria Rita Gismondo
International Journal of One Health, 3: 77-82

Sara Giordana Rimoldi: Laboratory of Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergency, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Annamaria Di Gregorio: Laboratory of Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergency, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Vittorio Sala: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Universita di Milano, Italy.
Eleonora De Faveri: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Universita di Milano, Italy.
Cristina Pagani: Laboratory of Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergency, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Pietro Olivieri: Medical Management Staff, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Claudio Savi: Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Anna Lisa Ridolfo: Department of Infectious Diseases, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Antona Carlo: Cardiac Surgery Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.
Maria Rita Gismondo: Laboratory of Microbiology, Virology and Bioemergency, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via G.B. Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy.

doi: 10.14202/IJOH.2017.77-82

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Article history: Received: 03-08-2017, Accepted: 30-10-2017, Published online: 28-11-2017

Corresponding author: Sara Giordana Rimoldi

E-mail: sara.rimoldi@asst-fbf-sacco.it

Citation: Rimoldi SG, Di Gregorio A, Sala V, De Faveri E, Pagani C, Olivieri P, Savi C, Ridolfo AL, Carlo A, Gismondo MR. Mingling of human and veterinary strains of Staphylococcus aureus: An emerging issue in health-care systems. Int J One Health 2017;3:77-82.
Abstract

Aim: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus remains a leading cause of hospital and community infections. We report a retrospective molecular characterization of S. aureus strains from different settings: hospital workers and patients, and veterinarian surgeons and pets.

Materials and Methods: Eighty-nine S. aureus isolates obtained from nasal swabs of 10 patients, 17 health-care workers (HCWs), 9 pets, and 53 veterinarians were genotypically characterized by means of repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction (Rep PCR) and whole-genome sequencing.

Results: Thirteen different sequence types (STs) were detected: ST398, ST22, ST8, ST30, ST15, ST5, ST121, ST45, ST10, ST6, ST34, ST97, and ST1. Two new STs differing from ST22 and ST5 for a single multilocus sequence typing gene were also identified. Rep PCR documented a genetic relationship among isolates obtained from 5 veterinarians and 10 HCWs.

Conclusion: The large diversity of S. aureus strains detected may reflect a larger epidemiology within the hospital and community, in which companion animals likely act as a reservoir. We identified the circulation of ST5, ST8, ST15, ST22, ST30, ST45, and ST121 both in the hospital and veterinarian environment. Starting from the idea of a unique setting where our population lives, we consider the relationship between community- and hospital-acquired S. aureus.

Keywords: health-care workers, multilocus sequence typing, S. aureus, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, pets, veterinarians..

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