title: Cross-border dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Euregio Meuse-Rhin region.
abstract: Because the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) differs among the 3 countries forming the Euregio Meuse-Rhin (EMR) region (Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands), cross-border healthcare requires information about the spread of MRSA in the EMR. We investigated the emergence, dissemination, and diversity of MRSA clones in the EMR by using several typing methods. MRSA associated with clonal complexes 5, 8, 30, and 45 was disseminated throughout the EMR. Dutch isolates, mainly associated with sequence types (ST) ST5-MRSA-II, ST5-MRSA-IV, ST8-MRSA-IV, and ST45-MSRA-IV had a more diverse genetic background than the isolates from Belgium and Germany, associated with ST45-MRSA-IV and ST5-MRSA-II, respectively. MRSA associated with pigs (ST398-MRSA-IV/V) was found in the Dutch area of the EMR. Five percent of the MRSA isolates harbored Panton-Valentine leukocidin and were classified as community-associated MRSA associated with ST1, 8, 30, 80, and 89.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Maastricht, the Netherlands. ruud.deurenberg@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Ruud H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Deurenberg
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nulens
authors.forename: Havard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Valvatne
authors.forename: Silvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sebastian
authors.forename: Christel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Driessen
authors.forename: Jos
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Craeghs
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Brauwer
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Heising
authors.forename: Yvette J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kraat
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riebe
authors.forename: Frans S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Stals
authors.forename: Thera A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Trienekens
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scheres
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: van Tiel
authors.forename: Patrick S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Beisser
authors.forename: Ellen E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Stobberingh
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors