Molecular identification of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes of staphylococcus aureus from nasal isolates among medical laboratory technology (MLT) students in UiTM Puncak Alam / Rufaida Muhammad

Staphylococcus aureus is gram positive bacterium that known as normal flora in human skin and nasal passages but it can be infectious as the presence of antibiotic resistance gene (mecA) and virulence gene (PVL) which contribute to Methicillin Resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). About 4.4% students that exposed to hospital environment during their clinical practice become nasal carrier of MRSA (Baliga et al., 2008). As Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) students will be exposed to hospital environment, they might become potential nasal carrier of MRSA. Hence, this study was conducted to identify the presence antibiotic resistance (mecA) and virulence (PVL) gene of S.aureus from nasal isolates among MLT students in UiTM Puncak Alam as well as to evaluate the association of possible risk factor with MRSA carrier. The nasal swab samples were taken from 144 students comprising 70 clinical and 74 pre-clinical students and questionnaire was given before nasal swabs collected. Cultural characteristic and biochemical test were identified S.aureus isolates and then proceeding to molecular analysis by using real time PCR as to determine the presence of mecA and PVL gene. Association of possible risk factor with MRSA were evaluated by statistical analysis of a questionnaire. Out of 144 nasal swab sample, cultural characteristics and biochemical reaction showed only 18 (12.5%) were S.aureus carrier. However, molecular analysis by using real time showed no amplification curve seen for mecA and PVL gene in any 18 isolates nasal carriage of S.aureus. Therefore, this study revealed that none of them were carrier of for MRSA and the association possible risk factor with MRSA carrier could not be determined.