title: Comparative sensitivity to antibiotics and biocides of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from Saudi Arabia and Great Britain.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated in Saudi Arabia and Great Britain were examined for susceptibility to antibiotics and biocides. The strains differed in their sensitivity patterns. None of the Saudi strains showed resistance to propamidine isethionate, but most of the British gentamicin methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (GMRSA) strains were highly resistant to this compound and to some other nucleic acid-binding (NAB) compounds. Both groups showed a low level of resistance towards quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), but resistance to these compounds was not associated with resistance to gentamicin in the Saudi strains. The aminoglycoside-resistant determinants were non-conjugative in these strains. Natural MRSA strains were good recipients for pWG613, but transferred this plasmid in reciprocal crosses at significantly lower rates.
authors.affiliation: School of Pure and Applied Biology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: al-Masaudi
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Day
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D011815:R Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004202:Disinfectants