Characterization of the First mecA-Positive Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Isolated from an Argentinian Patient

Abstract

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is commonly associated with colonization or infection in dogs, and was identified as a novel species within the genus Staphylococcus in 2006. Methicillin resistance emerged in S. pseudintermedius during the last decade. We describe here a genomic characterization of the first methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) recovered from a human patient in Argentina. The strain was phenotypically identified as MRSP 8510 by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We assessed genetic characterization by mecA PCR, SCCmec (staphylococcal chromosomal cassette) typing, and whole-genome sequencing. MRSP 8510 was phenotypically resistant to six classes of antimicrobial agents, consistent with the genes found in its genome. We concluded that MRSP 8510 was a multidrug-resistant ST1412 isolate. This study highlights the importance of the detection and characterization of pathogens with potential risks of zoonotic transmission to humans, as they may constitute a reservoir of genes associated with antimicrobial resistance.