%0 Journal Article %A Vanhoof, R. %A Godard, Claudine %A Content, J. %A Nyssen, H. J. %A Hannecart-Pokorni, Eleonora %A the Belgian Study Group of Hospital Infections (GDEPIH/GOSPIZ) %T Detection by polymerase chain reaction of genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates of epidemic phage types %D 1994 %J Journal of Medical Microbiology, %V 41 %N 4 %P 282-290 %@ 1473-5644 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00222615-41-4-282 %I Microbiology Society, %X Summary The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the aacA-aphD, aphA3 and aadC genes, encoding the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes AAC(6′)-APH(2″), APH(3′)III and ANT(4′ 4″), respectively, and the methicillin resistance determinant mecA, in epidemic aminoglycoside and methicillin-resistant isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. In total, 37 isolates collected in the period 1980–1985 and 81 isolates from the period 1991–1992 were obtained from 10 different Belgian hospitals. Epidemic isolates from the earlier period were characterised by phage type C (6/47/54/75) of phage group III, whereas two other epidemic phage types of group III—types A (77) and B (47/54/75/77/84/85)—were commonest in isolates from the second period. The bifunctional AAC(6′)-APH(2//) was the enzyme encountered most frequently. The prevalence of APH(3 )III decreased significantly in the 1991–1992 period, while ANT(4′, 4″) was found solely in isolates from this period. Resistance mechanisms were more complex in isolates from the 1991–1992 period and the mecA gene was detected in all isolates. The PCR results corresponded well with those obtained in the radiochemical phosphocellulose paper binding assay. Isolates from the 1991–1992 period were shown to express significantly higher levels of acetyltransferase activity than isolates from the 1980s. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/00222615-41-4-282