title: Nosocomial spread of Staphylococcus aureus showing intermediate resistance to methicillin.
abstract: A nosocomial outbreak of infection and colonization involving six patients and caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus showing intermediate resistance to methicillin (MIC = 4-8 mg l-1) is described. The outbreak was associated with skin-carriage of the epidemic strain by a nurse suffering from severe eczema. The reduced susceptibility of the outbreak strain to methicillin was associated with beta-lactamase production. Elimination or inhibition of beta-lactamase activity produced a two-fold decrease in methicillin MIC. There was no evidence for the presence of either penicillin-binding protein 2a or the corresponding mec gene, which mediate resistance in fully methicillin-resistant strains.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory, Norwich, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reith
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Woodford
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Marples
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: George
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000382:microbiology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D001618:beta-Lactamases