title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Samoa, 2007-2008.
abstract: Little is known about the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in most Pacific Island nations. Relatively high rates of MRSA have been reported in Polynesian people living outside the Pacific Islands. To determine the prevalence and characteristics of MRSA, we assessed wound swabs from 399 persons with skin and soft tissue infection living in Samoa. MRSA was isolated from 9% of study participants; 34 of the 196 S. aureus isolates were MRSA. Five MRSA genotypes were identified; the 3 most common were USA300, the Queensland clone, and a sequence type 1 MRSA strain that shares <85% homology with the sequence type 1 MRSA strain common in the region (WA MRSA-1). The Southwest Pacific MRSA clone was identified but accounted for only 12% of MRSA isolates. The high prevalence of MRSA in Samoa provides impetus for initiatives to improve antimicrobial drug resistance surveillance, infection control, and antimicrobial drug use in Pacific Island nations.
authors.affiliation: University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alesana-Slater
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heffernan
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Camp
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Herbison
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norris
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D018947:Samoa / Q000453:epidemiology; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007956:Leukocidins