Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.
Department of Honors Studies, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA.
Lab Med. 2023 May 2;54(3):227-234. doi: 10.1093/labmed/lmac101.
A burdensome, atypical phenotype of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) called S aureus small colony variant (SA-SCV) has been identified, which is induced as a result of a combination of environmental stressors, including polymicrobial interactions. The SA-SCVs exhibit altered phenotypes as a result of metabolic dormancy caused by electron transport deficiency, leading to increased biofilm production and alterations to antimicrobial susceptibility. The SA-SCVs typically exhibit altered colony morphology and biochemical reactions compared with wild-type SA, making them difficult to detect via routine diagnostics. The SA-SCVs have been found to contribute to chronic or recurrent infections, including skin and soft-tissue infections, foreign-body associated infection, cystic fibrosis, and sepsis. There is evidence that SA-SCVs contribute to patient morbidity and mortality as a result of diagnostic difficulties and limited treatment options. New detection methods may need to be developed that can be incorporated into routine diagnostics, which would allow for better assessment of specimens and introduce new considerations for treatment.
金黄色葡萄球菌（SA）的一种负担沉重、非典型表型，称为金黄色葡萄球菌小菌落变异体（SA-SCV），已被识别，这是多种环境压力因素共同作用的结果，包括微生物群相互作用。SA-SCV 由于电子传递缺陷导致代谢休眠而表现出改变的表型，导致生物膜产生增加和对抗菌药物敏感性的改变。与野生型 SA 相比，SA-SCV 通常表现出改变的菌落形态和生化反应，这使得它们难以通过常规诊断检测到。已经发现 SA-SCV 会导致慢性或复发性感染，包括皮肤和软组织感染、异物相关感染、囊性纤维化和败血症。有证据表明，SA-SCV 由于诊断困难和治疗选择有限导致患者发病率和死亡率增加。可能需要开发新的检测方法，将其纳入常规诊断中，这将允许更好地评估标本，并为治疗引入新的考虑因素。
