[Methicillin resistant yellow staphylococci].
The incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Norway is extremely low. Isolation of such strains is nearly always associated with import. From December 1993 to January 1997 at the Ullevål University Hospital Department of Medical Microbiology, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 22 persons in Oslo (17 patients and five healthy carriers). A cluster of ten infected persons was detected (five patients and five carriers (nurses)) who were infected with strains showing an unusual antibiotic resistance pattern. All of the cluster strains except for beta-lactams were resistant to fucidic acid and sensitive to other antistaphylococcal agents. The cluster was associated with two hospitals. The five patients were all admitted to the same intensive care unit during the period May to July 1995. Four of the five patients (one died) were referred to the same department in a long-term care hospital for rehabilitation and training. Problems concerning epidemiological investigation and control are discussed.
Andersen
B M
BM
Seksjon for sykehushygiene, Klinikk for forebyggende medisin, Ullevål sykehus, Oslo.
Dalen
H E
HE
Steinbakk
M
M
Syversen
G
G
Bruun
J N
JN
Magnaes
B
B
Rasch
M
M
Solheim
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014195:Travel