High Prevalence of SEA Gene Among Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus in Tehran

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen producing different types of toxins. Enterotoxin A (SEA) is the most common type among clinical and food-related strains. The aim of the present study was to examine the prevalence of sea in clinical isolates of S. aureus. Moreover, the correlation between sea producing strains and type of infection as well as resistance to antibiotics is also considered. 128 S. aureus isolates randomly collected from different clinical samples in Tehran University Hospitals from February 2008 to June 2008. Patients’ information including sex, infection type and the hospital where samples come from were recorded. The sea gene was observed among 60 (46.9%) of clinical isolates. There was a significant correlation between prevalence of sea gene and type of infection (P = 0.01). Furthermore, significant correlation was detected between the presence of sea gene and resistance to the most of antibiotics used in this study. The significant relationship between the type of infection and S. aureus isolates carrying sea indicates the interaction quality of the S. aureus pathogen and the host as well as the pathogenic role of S. aureus.