Investigating the relationship between mecA and qac genes and resistance to biocidal agents in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from surfaces and environments in medical centers of Alborz province
Subject Areas : microbiology
Aida Haji hossein tabrizi 1 , Fatemeh Foroohi 2 * , Hadi zamani 3
1 - Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: qac gene, mecA gene, biocide consumed, Staphylococcus aureus,
Abstract :
Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus can develop resistance to antimicrobial agents through various mechanisms, including the production of drug-degrading enzymes, reduced drug affinity for targets, and alterations in target proteins. The excessive and inappropriate use of biocides and antiseptics in hospitals has contributed to the emergence of resistant strains.
Methods: One hundred samples were collected and identified using diagnostic tests. Their antibiotic resistance pattern was determined by an antibiogram test. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) for the biocide Deconex Surface AF was then measured. Finally, the relationship between resistance and the presence of mecA and qac genes was investigated in 40 isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains.
Results: In this study, 100 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. Of these, 67 samples were from hospital floors, 15 from patient beds, 10 from hospital walls, and 8 from medical devices. The MIC range for the bacterial strains under study was from 0.6 µg/ml to 11.8 µg/ml. Furthermore, the frequency of the mecA gene among the investigated isolates was 63%, while the frequency of the qac gene was 37%.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a concerning prevalence of genes that create a potential for resistance to important disinfectants. This highlights the necessity for increased attention and more comprehensive research regarding the type and concentration of biocidal agents used in commercial biocide products.
1. Khan HA, Ahmad A, Mehboob R. Nosocomial infections and their control strategies. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2015;5(7):509-14. doi:10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.001
2. Jennings MC, Minbiole KP, Wuest WM. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: An Antimicrobial Mainstay and Platform for Innovation to Address Bacterial Resistance. ACS Infect Dis. 2015;1(7):288-303. doi:10.1021/acsinfecdis.5b00047
3. Hegstad K, Langsrud S, Lunestad BT, Scheie AA, Sunde M, Yazdankhah SP. Does the wide use of quaternary ammonium compounds enhance the selection and spread of antimicrobial resistance and thus threaten our health? Microb Drug Resist. 2010;16(2):91-104. doi:10.1089/mdr.2009.0120
4. Fatholahzadeh B, Emaneini M, Feizabadi MM, Sedaghat H, Aligholi M, Taherikalani M, et al. Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriers by multiplex PCR assays. Scand J Infect Dis. 2006;38(11-12):1127-9. doi:10.1080/00365540600702055
5. Pournajaf A, Ardebili A, Goudarzi L, Khodabandeh M, Narimani T, Abbaszadeh H. PCR-based identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains and their antibiotic resistance profiles. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2014;4(Suppl 1):S293-S297. doi:10.12980/APJTB.4.2014C423
6. Gahongayire S, Aliero AA, Kato CD, Ntulume I. Prevalence and Detection of qac Genes from Disinfectant-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Salon Tools in Ishaka Town, Bushenyi District of Uganda. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2020;2020:8819927. doi:10.1155/2020/8819927
7. A AL, B KG, C EK, D MK, Sienkiewicz M. Contribution of staphylococcal virulence factors in the pathogenesis of thrombosis. Elsevier. 2024;283.
8. Tiwari, H. K., Sapkota, D., Gaur, A., Mathuria, j.p., Sing A. Molecular typing of clinical staphylococcus aureus isolates from northern india using coagulasegene PCR-RFLP. 2008;467--473.
9. Yasar, O., Bozkaya F. Identifying the Bacteria Causing Ovine Gangrenous Mastitis and Detection of Staphylococcus aureus in Gangrenous Milk by PCR. 2012;401--6.
10. Smith K, Gemmell CG, Hunter IS. The association between biocide tolerance and the presence or absence of qac genes among hospital-acquired and community-acquired MRSA isolates. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008;61(1):78-84. doi:10.1093/jac/dkm395
11. Noguchi N, Hase M, Kitta M, Sasatsu M, Deguchi K, Kono M. Antiseptic susceptibility and distribution of antiseptic-resistance genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. FEMS Microbiol Lett. 1999;172(2):247-53. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6968.1999.tb13474.x
12. Rahimi F, Arabestani MR. Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying mecA and femA genes in Isfahan, Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol. 2014;7(7):e11188. doi:10.5812/jjm.11188
13. Berger-Bächi B, Rohrer S. Factors influencing methicillin resistance in staphylococci. Arch Microbiol. 2002;178(3):165-71. doi:10.1007/s00203-002-0436-0
14. Mohammadjahan M, Zeinali E, Sadeghi J, Asadpour L. Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and its antibiotic resistance pattern in samples from patients in Rasht, Iran. J Guilan Univ Med Sci. 2015;24(94):1-8.
15. Japoni-Nejad A, Rezazadeh M, Kazemian H, Fardmousavi N, van Belkum A, Ghaznavi-Rad E. Molecular characterization of the first community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from Central Iran. Int J Infect Dis. 2013;17(11):e949-54. doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2013.03.023
16. O'Brien LM, Walsh EJ, Massey RC, Peacock SJ, Foster TJ. Staphylococcus aureus clumping factor B (ClfB) promotes adherence to human type I cytokeratin 10: implications for nasal colonization. Cell Microbiol. 2002;4(11):759-70. doi:10.1046/j.1462-5822.2002.00231.x
17. Said HBAE-F; RMNYAEM EL. Detection of benzalkonium chloride phenotypic resistance and its association with qacG, qacH, qacJ resistance genes among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates. Microbes Infect Dis. 2025;6(2):670--9.