Evidence ofEnterotoxins and the Toxin Shock Syndrome (TSST-1) in Strains of Staphylococcusaureus Isolated from Different Biological Materials of Patients

Overview

Among 413 strains of S. aureus isolated from patients with chronic staphylococcal infections, fromhaemocultures in bacteriaemia andseptic conditions, fromgynaecological materials and nasal plugsof healthy carriers the authors detected the production of one or several types of enterotoxins in124 strains (30.0%), production of TSST-1 in 19 strains (4.6%) and the concurrent production ofenterotoxins and TSST-1 in 38 strains (9.2%). The highest ratio of toxigenic strains of S. aureus wasfound in departments (51.4%) and from hospitalized patients in blood cultures in bacteriaemias andseptic conditions (41.2%).In a group of 184 strains from patients with chronic staphylococcal infection toxin production wasproved in 49 strains (26.6%). Of 74 strains of S. aureus isolated from healthy carriers there were 16toxigenic strains (21.6%). The most frequent type of enterotoxins were enterotoxins type A (26.7%)and C (24.4%). 21 strains (24.4%) produced more than one type of enterotoxins.

Key words:
Staphylococcus aureus – enterotoxins – TSST-1.