Cross-border dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Euregio Meuse-Rhin region.
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.
Deurenberg
Ruud H
RH
University Hospital Maastricht, the Netherlands. ruud.deurenberg@mumc.nl
Nulens
Eric
E
Valvatne
Havard
H
Sebastian
Silvie
S
Driessen
Christel
C
Craeghs
Jos
J
De Brauwer
Els
E
Heising
Bernhard
B
Kraat
Yvette J
YJ
Riebe
Joachim
J
Stals
Frans S
FS
Trienekens
Thera A
TA
Scheres
Jacques
J
Friedrich
Alexander W
AW
van Tiel
Frank H
FH
Beisser
Patrick S
PS
Stobberingh
Ellen E
EE
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors