title: Vancomycin intermediate-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VISA).
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been an infectious disease problem since the early 1980s and until recently was uniformly susceptible to vancomycin, the drug known as the "last resort." Recent reports indicate that Staphylococcus aureus has continued to mutate and has developed intermediate resistance to vancomycin (VISA). This article lists some of the potential clinical manifestations of Staphylococcus aureus as well as a possible explanation of the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance. The reported cases of VISA are reviewed, and intervention strategies for prevention and control are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Patient Services, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Honolulu, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Rudoy
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D016357:Infection Control Practitioners; D007587:Job Description; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D024802:Nurse's Role; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial