The Experimental Study with the Induction of Cytokines by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Causative Strains of Postoperative Enterocolitis in Gastroenterological Surgery

Takahiro Santo, Takashi Yokoyama*, Takashi Kodama, Yoshio Takesue, Eiso Hiyama*, Yoshiaki Murakami, Yuji Imamura, Kanae Shinbara, Hiroaki Tsumura, Yuichiro Matsuura

First Department of Surgery, Hiroshima University School of Medicine
*Department of General Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital

In order to study the characteristics of the strains causing Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) enterocolitis, we investigated the coagulase type and the production of staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) of MRSA strains isolated in our ward for the past 13 years. Among the 28 strains causing MRSA enterocolitis, the first one was a coagulase type II and SE C and TSST-1-producing strain (II CT type), and the remaining 27 strains were coagulase type II and SE C, SE A and TSST-l-producing strains (IIACT type). Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells incubated with the culture supernatant of various types of MRSA was examined. TNFα and IL-2 production from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells incubated with the culture supernatant of the IIACT type of MRSA was the highest. Methylpredonisolone or human immunoglobuiin significantly reduced the TNFα and IL-2 production in the cultures (p<0.05). These results suggest that methylpredonisolone or human immunoglobulin is effective in the treatment of MRSA enterocolitis.

Key words
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus enterocolitis, staphylococcal enterotoxin, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, inflamatory cytokines

Reprint requests
Takahiro Santo Department of Surgery, Hiroshima Memorial Hospital
1-4-3 Honkawa-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, 730 JAPAN

Accepted
February 12, 1997

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