Non-association of the presence of panton-valentine leukocidingene with antimicrobial-resistance in staphylococcus aureus isolates in cotonou, benin

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) and mecA genes in Staphylococcus aureus in Cotonou and potential association between the presence of PVL gene and antibiotic resistance. Isolates of S. aureus consecutively recovered from various clinical samples in four laboratories in Cotonou were subjected to PCR of nuc gene (for identification of S. aureus), drug susceptibility testing to various antibiotics (by Kirby - Bauer method) and PCR for PVL and mecA genes. In total, 115 non-duplicate isolates of S. aureus were studied. The prevalence of PVL gene was 14.8% while that of mecA gene was 24.3%. The prevalence of PVL genes was higher in wound swabs than in other specimens. There was no statistical significant difference between the presence of PVL and mecA genes in S. aureus isolates (p = 0.70). Also, the association between PVL genes and phenotypic resistance to main groups of antibiotics was not statistically significant. In conclusion, in Cotonou, prevalence of PVL gene in S. aureus isolates was 14.8% while that of mecA gene was 24.3%. The presence of PVL gene was not significantly associated with antibiotic resistance.