Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clonal complex 80 type IV (CC80-MRSA-IV) isolated from the Middle East: a heterogeneous expanding clonal lineage.

Background: The emergence of community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has caused a change in MRSA epidemiology worldwide. In the Middle East, the persistent spread of CA-MRSA isolates that were associated with multilocus sequence type (MLST) clonal complex 80 and with staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type IV (CC80-MRSA-IV), calls for novel approaches for infection control that would limit its spread.

Methodology/principal Findings: In this study, the epidemiology of CC80-MRSA-IV was investigated in Jordan and Lebanon retrospectively covering the period from 2000 to 2011.

Molecular characterization of Streptococcus pyogenes group A isolates from a tertiary hospital in Lebanon.

Streptococcus pyogenes [Group A Streptococcus (GAS)] is one of the most important human pathogens, responsible for numerous diseases with diverse clinical manifestations. As the epidemiology of GAS infections evolves, a rapid and reliable characterization of the isolates remains essential for epidemiological analysis and infection control. This study investigated the epidemiological patterns and genetic characteristics of 150 GAS isolates from a tertiary hospital in Lebanon by emm typing, superantigens (SAgs) detection, PFGE and antibiotic profiling.

Molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus collected from a Major Hospital in Amman, Jordan.

Introduction: Over the past decade methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been recognized as a major cause of healthcare associated infections. Recently, however, epidemiology of this pathogen has changed drastically with the emergence of new clones in the community. Efficient epidemiological typing methods are essential to monitor and limit the occurrence and spread of epidemic clones.

Molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a major hospital in Lebanon.

Objectives: The occurrence and dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in healthcare settings and the community and its risk of being introduced into hospitals are matters of great concern. The purpose of this study was to conduct a miniaturized epidemiological analysis of S. aureus-associated infections and to characterize the isolates by a variety of molecular typing techniques.

Phylogenetic assessment of heterotrophic bacteria from a water distribution system using 16S rDNA sequencing.

Determination of a heterotrophic plate count (HPC) for drinking-water samples alone is not enough to assess possible health hazards associated with sudden changes in the bacterial count. Speciation is very crucial to determine whether the population includes pathogens and (or) opportunistic pathogens. Most of the isolates recovered from drinking water samples could not be allocated to a specific phylogenetic branch based on the use of conventional diagnostic methods.