Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in invasive isolates from southern and eastern Mediterranean countries.
OBJECTIVE
Efforts aimed at curtailing the ever increasing spread of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) require effective information of its epidemiology. However, knowledge about the situation in southern and eastern countries of the Mediterranean is incomplete since reports have been sporadic and difficult to compare.


METHODS
Over a 36 month period from 2003 to 2005, the ARMed project collected more than 5000 susceptibility test results of invasive isolates of S. aureus from blood cultures routinely processed within participating laboratories servicing 62 hospitals situated in Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey.


RESULTS
Overall, the median MRSA proportion was 39% (interquartile range: 27.1% to 51.1%). The highest proportions of MRSA were reported by Jordan, Egypt and Cyprus, where more than 50% of the invasive isolates were methicillin-resistant. Considerable variation was identified in the proportion of MRSA in hospitals within the same country.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears that most of the countries in the Mediterranean region are experiencing a surge in MRSA infections. This requires a greater focus to identify relevant drivers of resistance and implement effective practices in order to address them, especially improved infection control and antibiotic consumption practices.
Borg
Michael A
MA
Infection Control Unit, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida MSD05, Malta. michael.a.borg@gov.mt
de Kraker
Marlieke
M
Scicluna
Elizabeth
E
van de Sande-Bruinsma
Nienke
N
Tiemersma
Edine
E
Monen
Jos
J
Grundmann
Hajo
H
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D019083:Mediterranean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media