Keywords

Staphylococcus aureus, COVID-19 pandemic, MRSA, Epidemiology, Antibiotic Resistance, Genomic Analysis

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about significant changes in the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus carriage and disease. This study aims to assess these changes by leveraging respiratory samples collected from a longstanding cohort, comparing the genomic characteristics of S. aureus isolates from pre- and post-pandemic periods. We analyzed S. aureus genomes and phenotypically determined macrolide resistance to characterize population structure, antibiotic resistance, and virulence profiles. Changes in S. aureus carriage rates, macrolide resistance, disease occurrence, and population structure between samples collected pre- and post-pandemic were examined. By using respiratory samples, chart reviews, and risk factor questionnaires of 498 children from a carriage study conducted from 2022 to 2023, we ascertained the prevalence of S. aureus carriage, the proportion of MRSA, and associated risk factors. Isolates underwent while-genome sequencing and bioinformatic analysis to assess changes in S. aureus population structure compared to a pre-pandemic carriage study conducted in 2017. S. aureus remains a significant cause of various infections and its carriage is a critical risk factor. The pandemic led to increased and often improper antibiotic usage, exacerbating antimicrobial resistance. This study employs advanced pathogen genomic techniques, including multilocus sequence typing (MLST), to track the evolution of S. aureus strains and their associated resistance patterns. These findings provide valuable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on S. aureus epidemiology, contributing to better management and mitigation strategies for antibiotic resistance and S. aureus-related diseases.

Thesis Completion Year

2024

Thesis Completion Semester

Summer

Thesis Chair

Azarian, T

College

College of Medicine

Department

Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences

Thesis Discipline

Biomedical Sciences

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Subjects

COVID-19 (Disease)--Epidemiology; Staphylococcus aureus infections; Drug resistance--Research; Staphylococcus aureus; Methicillin resistance

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Rights Statement

In Copyright