Characterization of a Novel Composite Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosomemec(SCCmec-SCCcad/ars/cop) in the Neonatal Sepsis-Associated Staphylococcus capitis Pulsotype NRCS-A

Abstract

ABSTRACTMultiresistantStaphylococcus capitispulsotype NRCS-A has been reported to be a major pathogen causing nosocomial bacteremia in preterm infants. We report that the NRCS-A strain CR01 harbors a novel 60.9-kb composite staphylococcal cassette chromosomemec(SCCmec) element, composed of an SCCmecwith strong homologies toStaphylococcus aureusST398 SCCmecand of an SCCcad/ars/copharboring resistance genes for cadmium, arsenic, and copper. Whole-genome-based comparisons of publishedS. capitisstrains suggest that strain CR01 acquired the two elements independently.