Strain variation in the MRSA population over a 10-year period in one Dublin hospital.
Between 1989 and 1998, the number of patients carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in one Dublin hospital increased fourfold, and the antibiogram-resistogram (AR) type distribution changed. In 1989, the predominant AR types were AR01 and AR02; in 1993, AR14 predominated; and in 1994, AR14 and AR13 were predominant. By 1998, the prevalence of AR13 and AR14 had declined and AR06 and AR07 were observed more frequently. In 1989, 65% of isolates were nontypeable using the International Basic Set of Typing Phages. This percentage increased to 78% in 1998. Total cellular DNA macrorestriction analysis reflected the changing AR type distribution. No vancomycin-intermediate isolates were recovered, but possible heteroresistance was observed in 2.7% of isolates. High-level mupirocin resistance occurred in 4% of isolates, and 32% exhibited low-level resistance.
Rossney
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National MRSA Reference Laboratory, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. arossney@stjames.ie
Keane
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CT
D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D013045:Species Specificity; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects*