MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth

Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) is a devastating global health concern. Hypervirulent strains are on the rise, causing morbidities and mortalities worldwide. In tertiary care hospitals, critically ill patients, those undergoing invasive procedures, and pediatric...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kamaleldin B. Said, Khalid Alshammari, Ruba M. Elsaid Ahmed, Fawwaz Alshammari, Ahmed H. Jadani, Ihab Rakha, Salem A. Almijrad, Anwar E. Almallahi, Bader Alkharisi, Naif M. Altamimi, Tarig Mahmoud, Nada A. Abozaid, Amal D. Alshammari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1078
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850126524313763840
author Kamaleldin B. Said
Khalid Alshammari
Ruba M. Elsaid Ahmed
Fawwaz Alshammari
Ahmed H. Jadani
Ihab Rakha
Salem A. Almijrad
Anwar E. Almallahi
Bader Alkharisi
Naif M. Altamimi
Tarig Mahmoud
Nada A. Abozaid
Amal D. Alshammari
author_facet Kamaleldin B. Said
Khalid Alshammari
Ruba M. Elsaid Ahmed
Fawwaz Alshammari
Ahmed H. Jadani
Ihab Rakha
Salem A. Almijrad
Anwar E. Almallahi
Bader Alkharisi
Naif M. Altamimi
Tarig Mahmoud
Nada A. Abozaid
Amal D. Alshammari
author_sort Kamaleldin B. Said
collection DOAJ
description Methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) is a devastating global health concern. Hypervirulent strains are on the rise, causing morbidities and mortalities worldwide. In tertiary care hospitals, critically ill patients, those undergoing invasive procedures, and pediatric and geriatric patients are at risk. It is not fully clear how strains adapt and specialize in humans and emerge despite the well-established commonality of the <i>S. aureus</i> genome from humans and animals. This study investigates the influence of age-, gender-, and source-specific profiles (clinical, intensive care unit (ICU vs. non-ICU)) on the evolution of hospital-associated (HA)-MRSA versus community-associated (CA)-MRSA lineages. A total of 253 non-duplicate <i>S. aureus</i> isolates were obtained from May 2023 to March 2025. The patients were stratified by age and gender in ICUs and non-ICUs. Standard microbiology methods and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines were used for identification and susceptibility testing, with cefoxitin and oxacillin disk diffusions and molecular diagnosis confirming MRSA. Mann–Whitney U and Chi-square tests assessed the demographic distributions, clinical specimen sources, and MRSA/methicillin-sensitive <i>S. aureus</i> (MSSA) prevalence. Of 253, 41.9% originated from ICUs (71% male; 29% female) and 58.1% from non-ICU wards (64% male; 36% female). In both settings, MRSA colonized the two extremes of age (10–29 and 70+) for males and females, with different mid-life peaks or declines by gender. However, the overall demographic distribution did not differ significantly between the ICU and non-ICU groups (<i>p</i> = 0.287). Respiratory specimens constituted 37% and had the highest MRSA rate (42%), followed by blood (24.5%) and wounds (10.3%). In contrast, MSSA dominated wounds (20.3%). Overall, 73.9% were resistant to cefoxitin and cefotaxime, whereas vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline remained highly effective. Younger non-ICU patients (10–29) had higher MSSA, whereas older ICU ones showed pronounced HA-MRSA profiles. By the virtue of methicillin resistance, all MRSA were classified as multidrug resistance. Thus, MRSA colonization of the two extremes of life mostly in ICU seniors and the dominance of invasive MSSA and CA-MRSA patterns in non-ICU youth imply early age- and gender-specific adaptations of the three lineages. MRSA colonizes both ICU and non-ICU populations at extremes of age and gender specifically. High β-lactam resistance underscores the importance of robust stewardship and age- and gender-specific targeting in screening. These findings also indicate host- and organ-specificity in the sequalae of MSSA, CA-MRSA, and HA-MRSA evolutionary dynamics, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance to mitigate MRSA transmission and optimize patient outcomes in tertiary care settings.
format Article
id doaj-art-0f59e354c4ac46fdae5db6e10912fd5f
institution OA Journals
issn 2076-2607
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Microorganisms
spelling doaj-art-0f59e354c4ac46fdae5db6e10912fd5f2025-08-20T02:33:55ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-05-01135107810.3390/microorganisms13051078MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in YouthKamaleldin B. Said0Khalid Alshammari1Ruba M. Elsaid Ahmed2Fawwaz Alshammari3Ahmed H. Jadani4Ihab Rakha5Salem A. Almijrad6Anwar E. Almallahi7Bader Alkharisi8Naif M. Altamimi9Tarig Mahmoud10Nada A. Abozaid11Amal D. Alshammari12Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartments of Clinical Microbiology, King Khalid Hospital, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Dermatology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55476, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Health Administration, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 55462, Saudi ArabiaMethicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) is a devastating global health concern. Hypervirulent strains are on the rise, causing morbidities and mortalities worldwide. In tertiary care hospitals, critically ill patients, those undergoing invasive procedures, and pediatric and geriatric patients are at risk. It is not fully clear how strains adapt and specialize in humans and emerge despite the well-established commonality of the <i>S. aureus</i> genome from humans and animals. This study investigates the influence of age-, gender-, and source-specific profiles (clinical, intensive care unit (ICU vs. non-ICU)) on the evolution of hospital-associated (HA)-MRSA versus community-associated (CA)-MRSA lineages. A total of 253 non-duplicate <i>S. aureus</i> isolates were obtained from May 2023 to March 2025. The patients were stratified by age and gender in ICUs and non-ICUs. Standard microbiology methods and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines were used for identification and susceptibility testing, with cefoxitin and oxacillin disk diffusions and molecular diagnosis confirming MRSA. Mann–Whitney U and Chi-square tests assessed the demographic distributions, clinical specimen sources, and MRSA/methicillin-sensitive <i>S. aureus</i> (MSSA) prevalence. Of 253, 41.9% originated from ICUs (71% male; 29% female) and 58.1% from non-ICU wards (64% male; 36% female). In both settings, MRSA colonized the two extremes of age (10–29 and 70+) for males and females, with different mid-life peaks or declines by gender. However, the overall demographic distribution did not differ significantly between the ICU and non-ICU groups (<i>p</i> = 0.287). Respiratory specimens constituted 37% and had the highest MRSA rate (42%), followed by blood (24.5%) and wounds (10.3%). In contrast, MSSA dominated wounds (20.3%). Overall, 73.9% were resistant to cefoxitin and cefotaxime, whereas vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, and tigecycline remained highly effective. Younger non-ICU patients (10–29) had higher MSSA, whereas older ICU ones showed pronounced HA-MRSA profiles. By the virtue of methicillin resistance, all MRSA were classified as multidrug resistance. Thus, MRSA colonization of the two extremes of life mostly in ICU seniors and the dominance of invasive MSSA and CA-MRSA patterns in non-ICU youth imply early age- and gender-specific adaptations of the three lineages. MRSA colonizes both ICU and non-ICU populations at extremes of age and gender specifically. High β-lactam resistance underscores the importance of robust stewardship and age- and gender-specific targeting in screening. These findings also indicate host- and organ-specificity in the sequalae of MSSA, CA-MRSA, and HA-MRSA evolutionary dynamics, emphasizing the need for continued surveillance to mitigate MRSA transmission and optimize patient outcomes in tertiary care settings.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1078<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>MRSAMSSAtertiary care hospitalantibiotic resistanceICU
spellingShingle Kamaleldin B. Said
Khalid Alshammari
Ruba M. Elsaid Ahmed
Fawwaz Alshammari
Ahmed H. Jadani
Ihab Rakha
Salem A. Almijrad
Anwar E. Almallahi
Bader Alkharisi
Naif M. Altamimi
Tarig Mahmoud
Nada A. Abozaid
Amal D. Alshammari
MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth
Microorganisms
<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
MRSA
MSSA
tertiary care hospital
antibiotic resistance
ICU
title MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth
title_full MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth
title_fullStr MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth
title_full_unstemmed MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth
title_short MRSA Profiles Reveal Age- and Gender-Specificity in a Tertiary Care Hospital: High Burden in ICU Elderly and Emerging Community Patterns in Youth
title_sort mrsa profiles reveal age and gender specificity in a tertiary care hospital high burden in icu elderly and emerging community patterns in youth
topic <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
MRSA
MSSA
tertiary care hospital
antibiotic resistance
ICU
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/5/1078
work_keys_str_mv AT kamaleldinbsaid mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT khalidalshammari mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT rubamelsaidahmed mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT fawwazalshammari mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT ahmedhjadani mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT ihabrakha mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT salemaalmijrad mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT anwarealmallahi mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT baderalkharisi mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT naifmaltamimi mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT tarigmahmoud mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT nadaaabozaid mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth
AT amaldalshammari mrsaprofilesrevealageandgenderspecificityinatertiarycarehospitalhighburdeninicuelderlyandemergingcommunitypatternsinyouth