Detection of icaABCD Genes in Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Patients in Iran

Introduction: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen that causes several nosocomial or community-acquired infections. Adhesion to surfaces and subsequent biofilm formation are the major phases of a staphylococcal infection. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of icaABCD genes in clinical isolates of MRSA. Methods: A total of 110 clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates were collected from two teaching hospitals in Shahrekord (Hajar and Kashani hospitals). The MRSA isolates were detected by an antibiotic susceptibility test. A microtiter tissue plate assay was used to detect the phenotypic biofilm formation. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the presence of icaABCD genes. Results: The microtiter plate assay results showed that attachment abilities were strong in 26 (23.6%) strains, moderate in 30 (27.2%) strains, and weak in 16 (14.54%) strains. The prevalence of the icaA, icaB, icaC, and icaD genes among the studied isolates were as follows: 42 isolates were icaA positive (38.18%), 34 icaB positive (30.9%), 46 icaC positive (41.8%), and 50 were icaD positive (45.4%). Conclusion: The high prevalence of icaA/D harboring S. aureus among the clinical isolates suggests that the risk of persistent infections in the hospital settings is considerably high.