Establishment and evaluation of a bacteriemia model in mice after infection with an isolated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus( MRSA )

Objective To established a bacteriemia model of BALB/c mice after infection with a ST-239 methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) strain, which was isolated and identified from Shanghai Huashan Hospital. Methods We monitored the clinical signs and gross observations of MRSA-infected mice, and examined the histopathology among different groups. Results This isolated MRSA strain ST-239 can induced a typical bacteriemia in BALB/c mice, including the severe mortality and extensive histopathologic injury. However, higher survival rate and slight inflammatory injury were observed in vancomycin-treated mices. Conclusion The solid results obatined in this model will benefit us to study the pathogenic characteristics and patholgenesis in MRSA-induced bacteriemia, and propeled us to seek a safety cure approaches in the future. Key words: Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus(MRSA); Bacteriemia; Mice model