Amir Azimian - Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
Seyed Ahmad Hashemi - Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran.
Majid Ghafouri - Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
Saghar Safamanesh - Department of Pathobiology and Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran

Background and Aim:Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen associated with a wide range of community and hospital acquired infections. Therefore studying its origin and resistance is of utmost importance for determining an appropriate treatment pattern. The aim of this study was to detect methicillin resistance gene by PCR and demonstrate its type with SCCmec and agr typing typing method.Methods:a total of 150 clinical samples were collected from patients admitted to different wards of Emam Reza Hospital. Resistance to Cefoxitin was determined with disk diffusion method. Thereafter the samples containing mecA gene were subjected to SCCmec and agr typing.Results:frequency of mecA gene in Staphylococcus aureus strains was found to be 54% using PCR method. Resistance to Cefoxitin was 52% by disk diffusion method. Results with SCCmec typing revealed that the majority of strains were type IV and the minority were type I whereas agr typing showed type I to be predominant with the minority belonging to type IV.Conclusion:the resistance of Staphylococcus aureus strains to antibiotics is increasing. In addition, SCCmec type IV isolates, being CA-MRSA themselves, are continuing to spread in communities. It should be noted that Staphylococcus aureus strains in different regions have different agr patterns.

Staphylococcus aureus, Cefoxitin, SCCmec, agr, mecA