title: Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory aspects of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen responsible for both hospital- and community-onset disease. Resistance to methicillin in S. aureus is mediated by PBP2a, a penicillin-binding protein with low affinity to beta-lactams, encoded by the mecA gene. Accurate susceptibility testing of S. aureus isolates and screening of patients for colonization with MRSA are important tools to limit the spread of this organism. This review focuses on the clinical significance of MRSA infections and new approaches for the laboratory diagnosis and epidemiological typing of MRSA strains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Palavecino
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D002981:Clindamycin