title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying the new mecC gene--a meta-analysis.
abstract: In 2011, a new mecA gene homolog, named mecC gene, was found in isolates from both humans and animals. The discovery of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carrying the mecC gene has caused speculations about the origin, epidemiology, and impact of these isolates. The objective of this work is to perform a meta-analysis on the prevalence of mecC MRSA, based on previously published results. Meta-analysis showed that the overall pooled prevalence is 0.009% (95% confidence interval=0.05-0.013) and that there was evidence of heterogeneity (P<0.01, I(2)=97%). In conclusion, the very low reported prevalence provides an important baseline to monitor the epidemiology of this emerging form of MRSA.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, Institute for Research in Biomedicine-iBiMED, Health Sciences Program, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: raqueldiaz@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, Department of Medical Microbiology, Centro Hospitalar Baixo Vouga, Av. Artur Ravara, 3814-501, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: Elmano.ramalheira.11250@chbv.min-saude.pt.
authors.forename: Elmano
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramalheira
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, University of Aveiro, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Health Sciences Program, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: vera@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Afreixo
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Health Sciences Program, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: bmgago@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gago
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Prevalence; Staphylococcus aureus; mecC gene