Detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin and MecA Genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from Iraqi Patients

A gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus, which is widely distributed is considered as a bacterial infection that commonly infects the skin and mucous membranes. Such infections can be the cause of death and illness. In the present study  by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and mecA genes of S. aureus which were isolated from skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in Baghdad, Iraq were investigated. This study included 96 S. aureus isolated from SSTIs and identified by Vitek. The results showed that 61 (63.5%) and 48 (50%) of the isolates were positive for PVL and mecA genes, respectively. This work presented an effective real-time PCR technique for detecting PVL genes alone or in conjunction with mecA. The rt-PCR allows for easier reaction monitoring and eliminates the need for post-PCR processing, saving both resources and time. Moreover, it is ideal for diagnostic applications because of its high sensitivity, simplicity, and specificity. Besides, the rt-PCR has an option to do all the procedures in an automated mode of action.