Ferreira, CarolinaCosta, Sofia SantosSerrano, MariaOliveira, KetlynTrigueiro, GraçaPomba, ConstançaCouto, Isabel2021-05-032021-05-032021-042079-6382PURE: 29523931PURE UUID: 089370dc-8ac7-40d6-bcea-36d5e8bbffadScopus: 85103846152ORCID: /0000-0003-3536-2733/work/93243082ORCID: /0000-0002-4096-2410/work/93243472http://hdl.handle.net/10362/116909Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a leading cause of skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) in the community. In this study, we characterized a collection of 34 S. aureus from SSTIs in ambulatory patients in Portugal and analyzed the presence of Panton–Valentine leucocidin (PVL)-encoding genes and antibiotic-resistance profile, which was correlated with genetic determinants, plasmid carriage, and clonal lineage. Nearly half of the isolates (15, 44.1%) were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and/or multidrug resistant (MDR). We also detected resistance to penicillin (33/34, 97.1%), fluoroquinolones (17/34, 50.0%), macrolides and lincosamides (15/34, 44.1%), aminoglycosides (6/34, 17.6%), and fusidic acid (2/34, 5.9%), associated with several combinations of resistance determinants (blaZ, erm(A), erm(C), msr(A), mph(C), aacA-aphD, aadD, aph(3′ )-IIIa, fusC), or mutations in target genes (fusA, grlA/gyrA). The collection presented a high genetic diversity (Simpson’s index of 0.92) with prevalence of clonal lineages CC5, CC22, and CC8, which included the MRSA and also most MDR isolates (CC5 and CC22). PVL-encoding genes were found in seven isolates (20.6%), three methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) (ST152-agrI and ST30-agrIII), and four MRSA (ST8-agrI). Plasmid profiling revealed seventeen distinct plasmid profiles. This work highlights the high frequency of antimicrobial resistance and PVL carriage in SSTIs-related S. aureus outside of the hospital environment.1309934engAntibiotic resistanceClonal lineagesPanton–Valentine leucocidinPlasmidsSkin and soft-tissue infectionsStaphylococcus aureusMicrobiologyPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics(all)Microbiology (medical)Infectious DiseasesPharmacology (medical)SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-beingSDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Productionjournal article10.3390/antibiotics10040345https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85103846152