Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and its antibiotic resistance profiles in children in high altitude areas of Southwestern China.

Background/Aim. To describe the epidemiological profile of nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains, its antibiotic resistance and mecA and Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) genes presence, in school children residing in high altitude areas of Southwestern China. Methods. The cross sectional study screened nasal swabs taken from students for S. aureus. PCR was performed to identify mecA and PVL genes. Results. Of the total 314 children 5.10% (16/314) was detected S. aureus. The resistance of isolated strains to penicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, rifampicin and cefoxitin was 100%, 81.3%, 81.3%, 0.0%, and 6.3% respectively. No strains demonstrated resistance to vancomycin; expression of mecA gene was detected in 3 isolates and 10 isolates were PVL-positive. Conclusion. S. aureus was detected in 5.10% (16/314) of the study population; 0.96% (3/314) had methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA); expression of the mecA and PVL genes were detected in 3 and 10 isolates respectively.