Frequency of Class I and II Integrons in Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus Isolates in the City of Kermanshah

Background: Integrons are known as mobile genetic elements (MGEs) with their own effects on transferring antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria. Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of class I and II integrons in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) isolates in the city of Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 86 isolates of S. aureus were collected and verified using specific biochemical tests, and then examined for antibiotic susceptibility by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The frequency of class I and II integrons was also determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific primers. Results: The frequency percentages of class I and II integrons were 47.7% (n = 41 isolates) and 17.4% (n = 15 isolates), respectively. A statistically significant relationship was observed between the frequency of class I and II integrons and resistance to some antibiotics (P < 0.05). In the MRSA isolates, the most antibiotic resistance was to penicillin (100%) and gentamicin (80%) and the most antibiotic sensitivity was to vancomycin (100%) and linezolid (96.5%). Conclusions: Due to the frequency of the integrons in resistant strains of S. aureus, as well as the possibility of rapid transfer of these agents among the isolates, we are in dire need of continuous monitoring of resistance patterns and selection of appropriate antibiotics using the phenotypic and genotypic resistance measurements taken by hospital laboratories to reduce and control antibiotic resistance.