title: Trying to control MRSA causes more problems than it solves.
abstract: Despite occasional reports of local success, the steadily increasing prevalence of strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin (MRSA) shows that attempts to limit their spread do not work. In this commentary we suggest that efforts to control the spread of methicillin-resistance are counterproductive, and that energies should instead be directed towards the control of outbreaks of disease and preventing the emergence of antibiotic resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK. s.barrett@ic.ac.uk
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Mummery
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D006113:United Kingdom