Transfer of gentamicin resistance between coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive staphylococci on skin.
The transfer of gentamicin resistance between a coagulase-negative S. hominis strain and various coagulase-positive S. aureus strains on human and murine skin in the absence of a selective agent is described. Transfer occurs at higher frequency on skin than in broth. Skin transfer may account for the apparently explosive occurrence of gentamicin resistant staphylococci in hospitals.
D000818:Animals; D003030:Coagulase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D011815:R Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*
D003030:Coagulase; D005839:Gentamicins