[Epidemic strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in hospitals of Saint-Petersburg].

Aim: To study genetic characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing nosocomial infections in specialized inpatient clinics of Saint-Petersburg.

Materials And Methods: Nine cultures of S. aureus, which caused nosocomial infections in patients of 3 clinics in Saint-Petersburg, were studied by pulse-electrophoresis and spa-sequence typing. Identification of superantigens' genes pvl, sea, seb, sec, tst was performed by PCR.

Results: Circulation of epidemic clone BT2007 attributed to spa-type t008 was revealed. According to pulse-electrotype, this epidemic clone was related with European epidemic clones of widespread cluster A.

Conclusion: Epidemiologic surveillance for MRSA should incorporate monitoring of clonal structure of the agent on both local (intra-clinic) and regional level.