Clonal dissemination of mupirocin-resistant staphylococci in Greek hospitals.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the rates of mupirocin resistance in staphylococci during a 4 year period (1999-2002) in Greece.


METHODS
A total of 1200 Staphylococcus aureus and 2760 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), consecutively collected from four Greek hospitals located in different geographical areas, were tested for susceptibility to mupirocin using the Etest and a reference agar dilution method.


RESULTS
Twenty-four S. aureus (2%) and 532 CoNS (19.2%) were found to be mupirocin-resistant during the study period. High-level mupirocin resistance was detected in 20 S. aureus (1.6%) and in 440 CoNS (15.9%), respectively. No variations in the rates of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus in relation to the year of collection were observed. In contrast, the rate of mupirocin-resistant CoNS increased dramatically from 9% in 1999, to 14% in 2000, 20% in 2001 and reached 33% in 2002. PFGE analysis revealed the presence of one main clone (A) among mupirocin-resistant S. aureus and two main clones (i and a) among Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates.


CONCLUSIONS
In Greece, the rate of mupirocin-resistant S. aureus has remained low and steady since 1999. The high rate of mupirocin-resistant CoNS (33%) in 2002 was due mainly to clonal dissemination of epidemic hospital clones.
Petinaki
E
E
Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Papakyriazi 22, Larissa.
Spiliopoulou
I
I
Kontos
F
F
Maniati
M
M
Bersos
Z
Z
Stakias
N
N
Malamou-Lada
H
H
Koutsia-Carouzou
Ch
Ch
Maniatis
A N
AN
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003030:Coagulase / Q000378:metabolism; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003030:Coagulase; D016712:Mupirocin