Comparison of genotypes of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in Finland.
The frequency of horizontal transfer of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec to methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus is unknown. In order to gain more information regarding this frequency in Finland, the genotypes of 299 clinical methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus isolates were compared to representatives of 24 epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus genotypes. Sixty-eight percent of the methicillin-sensitive isolates had a genotype similar to eight of the epidemic methicillin-resistant strains. The remaining isolates (32%) showed 22 different genotypes. The results indicate that, in Finland, several methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus genotypes may have acquired the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec.
Ibrahem
S
S
Department of Microbiology, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland.
Salmenlinna
S
S
Kerttula
A-M
AM
Virolainen-Julkunen
A
A
Kuusela
P
P
Vuopio-Varkila
J
J
D005387:Finland; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*