Genetic Diversity of Class 1 and Class 2 Integron Gene Cassettes in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Isolates from Hospital Wastewater in Tehran, Iran
| Author | Mehdi Goudarzi | en |
| Author | Seyedeh Fatemeh Hamzavi | en |
| Author | Masoumeh Navidinia | en |
| Author | Masoud Dadashi | en |
| Author | Mohammad Javad Nasiri | en |
| Author | Hossein Goudarzi | en |
| Orcid | Mehdi Goudarzi [0000-0001-6720-9341] | en |
| Orcid | Masoumeh Navidinia [0000-0001-7124-9573] | en |
| Orcid | Masoud Dadashi [0000-0002-4800-2078] | en |
| Orcid | Mohammad Javad Nasiri [0000-0002-3279-0671] | en |
| Orcid | Hossein Goudarzi [0000-0001-8965-8690] | en |
| Issued Date | 2025-12-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background and Objectives: Hospital wastewater is a major reservoir for multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, including integron-bearing Staphylococcus aureus. Integrons facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes, making their epidemiological characterization essential for infection control. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, conducted over a 15-month period at two teaching hospitals affiliated with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, a total of 120 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates were collected from hospital wastewater, of which 75 (62.5%) were integron-positive S. aureus isolates. The isolates underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing, integron class determination, and molecular analysis for resistance gene cassettes. Associations between integron classes and antimicrobial resistance profiles were statistically evaluated. Results: Of the isolates examined, 66.6% carried class 1 integrons, 26.7% carried class 2 integrons, and 6.7% harbored both classes. Carriage of class 1 integrons was significantly associated with resistance to amikacin, penicillin, gentamicin, tetracycline, and erythromycin. Class 2 integrons were significantly correlated with resistance to amikacin, tetracycline, and erythromycin. A total of 16 distinct gene cassette arrays were identified. In class 1 integrons, the most prevalent arrays were aadB–aacA4–aadA2 (20%), aadB–catB3 (14%), and aadB–cmlA6 (12%). In class 2 integrons, sat2 (25%), dhfrA1–sat2 (20%), and dhfrA1 (20%) were most frequent. Multidrug resistance was observed in 94.2% of isolates, with resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, and amikacin being most common. Conclusions: This study highlights the predominance of class 1 integrons and their diverse gene cassette arrays in S. aureus isolates from hospital wastewater. The significant association between integron carriage and resistance to multiple antibiotics underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted infection control strategies to limit the spread of integron-bearing S. aureus within healthcare environments. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/archcid-165390 | en |
| Keyword | <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> | en |
| Keyword | Multidrug-Resistant | en |
| Keyword | Hospitals | en |
| Keyword | Wastewaters | en |
| Keyword | Integron | en |
| Keyword | Gene Cassettes | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | Genetic Diversity of Class 1 and Class 2 Integron Gene Cassettes in <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Isolates from Hospital Wastewater in Tehran, Iran | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |
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