Genetic characteristics of Staphylococcus argenteus isolates collected in the national Dutch MRSA surveillance

Staphylococcus argenteus (S. argenteus) can cause health issues and the frequency of infections caused by S. argenteus is similar to that of MRSA. Some isolates show antibiotic resistance and a variety of virulence factors have been found. In this study we found that most Dutch isolates have a blaZ plasmid and SCCmec cassette type IV harboring the methiciline resistence mecA gene and the SCCmec subtype IVc(2B) with trimethoprim resistence gene dfrG. Many isolates have immune-modulating genes scn and sak and can be considered virulent. A few isolates have enterotoxin encoding genes which might be able to cause Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP). Also the fact that isolates can persist long term a person and seems to be easily transmitted between people living in close proximity, MRSarg might to be an important pathogen.In order to learn more about the incidence and prevalence of MRSarg in the Netherlands, it is necessary to collect more samples, epidemiologic and clinical data of patients over a longer period of time.