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Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus (MRSH) is an important pathogenic agent of bovine mastitis. Among the prominent clone lineages in dairy cows are MRSH sequence types ST3 and ST42. Little information is available on the complete characterization of SCC mec elements in MRSH. Objective In this study, two clinical isolates of MRSH ST3 and ST42 from bovine mastitis milk were selected, and their nontypable SCC mec structures were compared. Methods Two MRSH strains, MRSH-ST3 strain M62.3 and MRSH-ST42 strain M81.1, were identified from bovine mastitis milk in Thailand in 2022. Minimum inhibitory concentration was used to screen for antimicrobial resistance susceptibility. Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Illumina sequencing were performed in combination to complete the genome. Their gene organization and structure of SCC mec types were analysed and compared with the whole sequences of other strains in the same sequence types. Results Both MRSH-ST3 strain M62.3 and MRSH-ST42 strain M81.1 possessed the class C1 mec complex but lacked the ccr gene complex. Notably, MRSH-ST42 strain M81.1 contained a novel variant of C1 mec complex, which consisted of IS 431 - mecA -IS Sha1 - paaZ - upgQ -IS 431 , with IS 431 organized in the same orientation. Apart from class C1 mec and the heavy metal-resistant cluster, the gene composition and order of the SCC mec element varied. In ST3, variations in the SCC mec type, gene content and organization were observed. Conclusions The distinct evolution of the MRSH lineage was indicated by the various SCC mec elements. The insertion of IS Sha1 resulted in a unique variant of class C1 mec complex that demonstrated the important role of the insertion sequence in SCC mec diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus warneri are coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) as part of human skin’s natural flora. In recent years, CoNS has increased its visibility as opportunistic pathogens acquired in hospital patients. This study aims to isolate S. haemolyticus and S. warneri strains from patients with bloodstream infections and to analyze the antimicrobial profile of these bacteria by molecular detection of the mecA gene. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and twenty-three clinical blood samples were collected from patients admitted to general three hospitals in Hilla city, Iraq, during the period from September 2021 to July 2022. Blood samples were inoculated immediately into blood bottles containing 70 ml of Brain-Heart Infusion Broth. All isolates were identified by morphology, biochemical tests, and VITEK 2 automated system (bioMerieux, France). The Congo red agar plate test was used to detect biofilm production. The mecA gene was detected by conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results: S. haemolyticus (nine isolates) and S. warneri (six isolates) were detected out of 423 clinical blood samples. Molecular detection of the mecA gene was detected in all 15 isolates. As well 11 (73.3%) isolates were β-lactam resistant and biofilm production. The results of oxacillin-resistance minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (≥4 mg/ml) showed that 11 (73.3%) of the 15 isolates were oxacillin and methicillin-resistant CoNS (MR-CoNS). Susceptibility to various isolates (MICs µg/ml) using VITEK 2 system showed erythromycin (≥8 µg/ml), rifampin (≥4 µg/ml), clindamycin (≥4 µg/ml), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (≥4 µg/ml) resistance were (80%), (13.3%), (20%), and (53.3%), respectively. All isolates were (100%) sensitive to linezolid (≥8 µg/ml) and teicoplanin (≥32 µg/ml). Conclusions: The S. haemolyticus and S. warneri are serious infections associated with bacteremia and septicemia infections. Linezolid, teicoplanin, and rifampin are the drug of choice for the treatment of infections caused by MR-CoNS isolates. A high rate of the mecA gene and biofilm production is present in these bacteria.

In this case study, a 57-year-old diabetic patient was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in a general hospital in Southwest Saudia Arabia following a road traffic accident (RTA). He subsequently developed a Central Line Associated Blood Stream Infection (CLABSI) with Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus). Despite his fever and elevated inflammatory markers, the organism was initially dismissed as a contaminant, leading to delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment with different antibiotics. Empirical antibiotic therapy was ineffective, prompting a change to Vancomycin following organism identification and a full susceptibility report. Communication gaps between the laboratory and clinicians, combined with the lack of rapid organism identification tools, contributed to the delay in appropriate therapy. The active surveillance of the infection control department facilitated the identification of recurring infections, leading to timely intervention and a positive outcome for the patient. This case underscores the importance of prompt and accurate organism identification, effective communication between laboratory staff and clinicians, and the proactive role of infection control doctors in detecting and managing healthcare-associated infections to ensure optimal patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zhao Liu,1,* Ling Wang,2,* Jiabing Sun,1,* Qinghuan Zhang,3 Yue Peng,1 Susu Tang,1 Limei Zhang,4 Xiaobin Li,4,5 Zhijian Yu,1 Tao Zhang6 1Department of Otolaryngology, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University (Zhuhai People’s Hospital), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Obstetrics, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University (Zhuhai People’s Hospital), Zhuhai, 519000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Clinical Laboratory, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University (Zhuhai People’s Hospital), Zhuhai, 519000, People’s Republic of China; 4Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University (Zhuhai People’s Hospital), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China; 5Zhuhai Precision Medical Center, Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University (Zhuhai People’s Hospital), Zhuhai, People’s Republic of China; 6Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Tao Zhang; Zhijian Yu, Email 18045681156@163.com; yzjent@163.comObjective: Staphylococcus haemolyticus can cause a series of infections including otitis media (OM), and the oxacillin-resistant S. haemolyticus has become a serious health concern. This study aimed to investigate the genomic characteristics of two strains of oxacillin-resistant and mecA-positive S. haemolyticus isolated from the samples of ear swabs from patients with OM and explore their acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and the mobile genetic elements (MGEs).Methods: Two oxacillin-resistant S. haemolyticus strains, isolated from ear swab samples of patients with OM, underwent antimicrobial susceptibility evaluation, followed by whole-genome sequencing. The acquired ARGs and the MGEs carried by the ARGs, harbored by the genomes of two strains of S. haemolyticus were identified.Results: The two strains of oxacillin-resistant S. haemolyticus (strain SH1275 and strain SH9361) both carried the genetic contexts of mecA with high similarity with the SCCmec type V(5C2& 5) subtype c. Surprisingly, the chromosomal aminoglycoside resistance gene aac(6’)-aph(2”) harbored by S. haemolyticus strain SH936 was flanked by two copies of IS 256, forming the IS 256-element (IS 256-GNAT-[aac(6’)-aph(2”)]-IS 256), which was widely present in strains of both Staphylococcus and Enterococcus genus. Furthermore, the two strains of oxacillin-resistant and MDR S. haemolyticus were found to harbor antimicrobial resistance plasmids, including one 26.9-kb plasmid (pSH1275-2) containing msr(A)–mph(C)) and qacA, one mobilizable plasmid pSH1275-3 harboring vga(A)LC, one plasmid (pSH9361-1) carrying erm(C), and one plasmid (pSH9361-2) carrying qacJ.Conclusion: The systematic analysis of whole-genome sequences provided insights into the mobile genetic elements responsible for multi-drug resistance in these two strains of oxacillin-resistant and mecA-positive S. haemolyticus, which will assist clinicians in devising precise, personalized, and clinical therapeutic strategies for treating otitis media caused by multi-drug resistant S. haemolyticus.Keywords: Staphylococcus haemolyticus, ear swabs, mecA, antimicrobial resistance plasmid, whole genome sequence

Background: Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a clinically significant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) accountable for various infections and is often multi-drug resistant along with resistance to linezolid. Aim and Objectives: This study was carried out to detect the presence of cfr and optrA gene in clinical isolates of linezolid resistant S. haemolyticus in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: A total of 227 clinical isolates of S. haemolyticus recovered from various clinical samples were tested to determine susceptibility to linezolid by phenotypic method. Further, the presence of cfr & optrA gene was looked for, in clinical isolates of S. haemolyticus. Results: S. haemolyticus was isolated predominantly from inpatient department mainly from blood culture (85%). Linezolid resistance was confirmed in 9.2% isolates of S. haemolyticus phenotypically and they were also methicillin resistant. On genotypic characterization, cfr gene could be detected in 7.04% the isolates. However, all the isolates were negative for optrA gene. Conclusion: Emergence of resistance to linezolid in S. haemolyticus was reported for the first time. The presence of cfr gene is the most common mechanism of resistance to linezolid. Correct identification of these isolates and adherence to strict infection control protocols will help in better clinical outcomes.

Background: Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a clinically significant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS) accountable for various infections and is often multi-drug resistant along with resistance to linezolid. Aim and Objectives: This study was carried out to detect the presence of cfr and optrA gene in clinical isolates of linezolid resistant S. haemolyticus in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: A total of 227 clinical isolates of S. haemolyticus recovered from various clinical samples were tested to determine susceptibility to linezolid by phenotypic method. Further, the presence of cfr & optrA gene was looked for, in clinical isolates of S. haemolyticus. Results: S. haemolyticus was isolated predominantly from inpatient department mainly from blood culture (85%). Linezolid resistance was confirmed in 9.2% isolates of S. haemolyticus phenotypically and they were also methicillin resistant. On genotypic characterization, cfr gene could be detected in 7.04% the isolates. However, all the isolates were negative for optrA gene. Conclusion: Emergence of resistance to linezolid in S. haemolyticus was reported for the first time. The presence of cfr gene is the most common mechanism of resistance to linezolid. Correct identification of these isolates and adherence to strict infection control protocols will help in better clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus lugdunensis are members of the normal human flora, they also can cause infection. Here, we present the draft genomes of five strains of S. lugdunensis and one strain of S. haemolyticus isolated from transurethral catheterized urine samples from different females experiencing lower urinary tract symptoms., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a cause of bovine mastitis, leading to inflammation in the mammary gland. This bacterial infection adversely affects animal health, reducing milk quality and yield. Its emergence has been widely reported, representing a significant economic loss for dairy farms. Interestingly, S. haemolyticus exhibits higher levels of antimicrobial resistance than other coagulase-negative Staphylococci. In this study, we synthesized silver/silver chloride nanoparticles (Ag/AgCl-NPs) using Solanum lasiocarpum root extract and evaluated their antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against S. haemolyticus. The formation of the Ag/AgCl-NPs was confirmed using UV–visible spectroscopy, which revealed maximum absorption at 419 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated the crystalline nature of the Ag/AgCl-NPs, exhibiting a face-centered cubic lattice. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy elucidated the functional groups potentially involved in the Ag/AgCl-NPs synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed that the average particle size of the Ag/AgCl-NPs was 10 nm. Antimicrobial activity results indicated that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and maximum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the Ag/AgCl-NPs treatment were 7.82–15.63 μg/mL towards S. haemolyticus. Morphological changes in bacterial cells treated with the Ag/AgCl-NPs were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The Ag/AgCl-NPs reduced both the biomass of biofilm formation and preformed biofilm by approximately 20.24–94.66 % and 13.67–88.48 %. Bacterial viability within biofilm formation and preformed biofilm was reduced by approximately 21.56–77.54 % and 18.9–71.48 %, respectively. This study provides evidence of the potential of the synthesized Ag/AgCl-NPs as an antibacterial and antibiofilm agent against S. haemolyticus. • Ag/AgCl-NPs were synthesized using S. lasiocarpum root extract. • Ag/AgCl-NPs showed potent antibacterial and antibiofilm activity. • Ag/AgCl-NPs reduced biofilm biomass and bacterial cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus haemolyticus are common members of the human microbiota, but they are also opportunistic pathogens. To identify antibiotic resistance in healthy individuals, we present the genome sequences of S. aureus 139 N-1 and S. haemolyticus 173 N-3, both isolated from nasal swab samples from asymptomatic female participants., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The rapid intensification of tilapia aquaculture is associated with losses due to emerging pathogens. The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a vital role in the host's health by modulating the immune system and several physiological functions. Recent studies suggest that bacterial pathogens may deleteriously affect the microbiota structure. This study analyzed the effect of challenging tilapia with two emerging bacterial pathogens: Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Providencia vermicola, on the stomach and intestinal microbiota. Immediately after infection, fish started showing disease signs, tilapia infected with S. haemolyticus and P. vermicola registered 40 and 67% survival after seven days, while no mortality was reported in the control group during the trial. Amplicon libraries constructed by amplifying the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene were analyzed. Proteobacteria was the most dominant phylum in the stomach and intestine of all infection groups. Staphylococcus haemolyticus infection disrupted both stomach and intestine microbiota. For instance, Bacteroidetes abundance increased while Proteobacteria dropped in the stomach of fish infected with S. haemolyticus. Both alpha and beta diversity indexes showed a clear differentiation of this group from the control and P. vermicola- infected fish. The microbiota of the stomach and intestine of this last group was also affected, although the effects were not as severe as in the case of the S. haemolyticus challenge. Results revealed that both emerging pathogens could lead to dysbiosis, affecting the functioning of the tilapia gut microbiota. • Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Providencia vermicola infected tilapia, causing 33 and 60% mortality, accompanied by disease signs. • Both pathogens affected the stomach and intestine microbiota, but S. haemolyticus severely disrupted the taxonomic structure. • S. haemolyticus infection caused loss of Deinococcus Thermus and an increase of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria in the stomach. • The intestine of tilapia was dominated by Proteobacteria, but a decrease was reported in S. haemolyticus -infected group. • Both tissues showed dysbiosis signs after the infection with S. haemolyticus and P. vermicola. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are one of the frequently isolated bacteria from blood cultures. Since they are part of the normal skin flora, they were previously considered contaminants. But now, they can be considered as established pathogens causing bloodstream infection (BSI). This study aims to estimate the prevalence of CoNS in BSI cases., Methods: This study was conducted at the Microbiology Department, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Raipur, India, for eight months (January 2022 to August 2022). Data were collected retrospectively from medical and laboratory records. Paired blood cultures from 5085 clinically suspected sepsis cases were subjected to aerobic culture for five days in the BacT ALERT 3D system. Pathogenicity was established after recovery of CoNS from paired blood cultures of symptomatic patients., Results: CoNS were isolated from 2.35% of patients, the most common species being Staphylococcus haemolyticus (51.67%). About 90% of isolates were methicillin-resistant. All the isolates were susceptible to linezolid, teicoplanin, and vancomycin, except one isolate of S. haemolyticus which was intermediate to vancomycin. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 50 and MIC 90 for vancomycin were 1 ug/ml and 2 ug/ml, respectively.  Conclusion: Paired blood cultures are necessary to determine the pathogenicity of CoNS in BSI cases. A high prevalence of methicillin resistance, accompanied by high resistance rates to other non-beta lactam antibiotics, warrants the strict implementation of antimicrobial stewardship practices., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Patil et al.)

In this short letter of correspondence, we provide our specialist interpretation of what has been described in a previously published case report. We argue that this case describes a patient with chronic, undertreated male genital lichen sclerosus. If left unchecked, as in this case, lichen sclerosus can cause permanent architectural changes and damage to the affected tissues, and can thus predisposes to secondary infections, including bacterial, such as with Staphylococcus haemolyticus ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Authors.)