[Prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-résistant Staphylococcus aureus].
OBJECTIVE
The authors had for aim to assess the prevalence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in France.


METHODS
Two hundred fifty-four strains identified in 1,079 nasal samples from voluntary individuals were analyzed in 2002. An antibiogram (especially measuring the inhibition diameter of cefoxitine) and screening by oxacillin (6 mug/ml) allowed the identification of strains resistant to betalactams. The resistant phenotype was confirmed by amplification of the mecA gene by PCR. The distribution of strains was compared to the resistance to various antibiotics and especially to cotrimoxazole, macrolides, aminosides, and the mechanisms of resistance were determined.


RESULTS
Eleven methicillin-resistant strains were detected in 254 carriers (4.33%), or 1% of the total population studied.


CONCLUSIONS
Complementary tests (detection of the Panton-Valentine toxin, pulsed field electrophoresis) will be necessary to finish strain characterization. It can already be stated that compared to previous studies, community-acquired MRSA carriage is weak in France.
Ficca
G
G
Unité des Agents Antibactériens, Institut Pasteur, 25-28, rue du Docteur-Roux, 75015 Paris, France.
Chauvel
M
M
de Moüy
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010641:Phenotype; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus