MRSA: the first half century.
Fifty years ago methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) first revealed themselves to the medical community, having been described in a landmark article published in the British Medical Journal. Among other things, their discovery set off a major response from the scientific and medical professions to control or even eliminate them as major human pathogens. Despite these efforts, however, MRSA have spread throughout the world and a half century after they burst upon the scene they continue to pose major challenges to research scientists and clinicians alike. In a very real sense, this year marks the 'birthday' of a remarkably successful pathogen. The major reasons for the ability of MRSA to prosper and cause disease in settings inimical to its survival form the basis of this article.
Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. rmoeller@bidmc.harvard.edu
Robert C
RC
Moellering
D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058873:Pandemics; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history* / Q000382:microbiology