Characterization of a novel composite staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec-SCCcad/ars/cop) in the neonatal sepsis-associated Staphylococcus capitis pulsotype NRCS-A

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2013 Dec;57(12):6354-7. doi: 10.1128/AAC.01576-13. Epub 2013 Sep 23.

Abstract

Multiresistant Staphylococcus capitis pulsotype NRCS-A has been reported to be a major pathogen causing nosocomial bacteremia in preterm infants. We report that the NRCS-A strain CR01 harbors a novel 60.9-kb composite staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) element, composed of an SCCmec with strong homologies to Staphylococcus aureus ST398 SCCmec and of an SCCcad/ars/cop harboring resistance genes for cadmium, arsenic, and copper. Whole-genome-based comparisons of published S. capitis strains suggest that strain CR01 acquired the two elements independently.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arsenic / pharmacology
  • Cadmium / pharmacology
  • Chromosomes, Bacterial / genetics
  • Copper / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
  • Sepsis / microbiology*

Substances

  • Cadmium
  • Copper
  • Arsenic