Ten years phage-typing of Belgian clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates (1992-2001).
Gradual changes have been observed in the phage-types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from Belgian hospitals. A total of 6551 isolates, collected in 93 Belgian hospitals over 10 years (1992-2001), was examined. A decreasing incidence of the main early Belgian epidemic phage-types ([A], [B], [H]*, Jo*) was observed. Since 1997 and 2000, a new series of phage-types ([Hv]*, [J]*, [O]*), which were likely related to the previous group [H]*, have been noted. The general trends were confirmed in two particular hospitals. Local epidemic and/or endemic phage-types were also encountered.
Wildemauwe
C
C
Pasteur Institute, Service Lysotypie, Engelandstraat 642, B-1180 Brussels, Belgium. cwildemauwe@pasteur.be
Godard
C
C
Verschraegen
G
G
Claeys
G
G
Duyck
M-C
MC
De Beenhouwer
H
H
Vanhoof
R
R
D000368:Aged; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*