Dissemination of New Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clones in the Community

• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.40.11.4289-4294.2002
• Publication Date: 2002-10-30T20:42:12Z
• Authors: Keiko Okuma; Kozue Iwakawa; John D. Turnidge; Warren B. Grubb; Jan M. Bell; Frances G. O'Brien; Geoffrey W. Coombs; John W. Pearman; Fred C. Tenover; Maria Kapi; Chuntima Tiensasi...; Teruyo Ito; Keiichi Hiramatsu
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Staphylococcus aureus; Australia; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Staphylococcal Infections; United States; Anti-Bacterial Agents; 3. Good health; Community-Acquired Infections; 03 medical and health sciences; Humans; Methicillin Resistance

ABSTRACT

Multiple methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones carrying type IV staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec were identified in the community-acquired MRSA strains of both the United States and Australia. They multiplied much faster than health-care-associated MRSA and were resistant to fewer non-beta-lactam antibiotics. They seem to have been derived from more diverse S. aureus populations than health-care-associated MRSA strains.