Prevalence of Staphylococcus spp carrying mecA gene in periodontitis subjects

Objective: The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS) carrying the antimicrobial resistance mecA gene in the oral cavity of chronic periodontitis (CP) or periodontally healthy subjects (PH). Methods: Periodontal clinical assessments were performed at 6 sites/tooth in 13 PH and 25 CP subjects. Subgingival biofilm samples were individually obtained from 2 to 6 periodontal lesions or healthy sites of each subject and placed on mannitol agar salt selective media. DNA was extracted from the isolates and the mecA gene detected by multiplex PCR. Differences between groups were sought by the c2 test. Results: Most of the isolates recovered in both CP and PH individuals were CNS (75% and 69.2%, respectively). Isolates of S. aureus were detected in 20.8% of patients with CP and 7.7% of PH individuals; however, no significant differences were found between groups. About 20% of S. aureus and 11.1% of CNS isolates from periodontitis patients carried the mecA gene. Conclusion: CNS were found in high frequency in all subjects, whereas S. aureus showed a tendency to be more prevalent in CP patients. The mecA gene was detected in isolates of both species only in individuals with periodontitis. Supported in part by CNPq, FAPERJ, PRONEX, Brazil.