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.
Highlights
Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a global health concern during the past 2–3 decades
This study showed that most methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in Hawaii were caused by the USA300 MRSA strain [6]
High rates of MRSA infection have been reported in Polynesian people living outside the Pacific Islands region, including in Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand, and have been attributed to infection with the Southwest Pacific clone of MRSA [7,8,9,10]
Summary
Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a global health concern during the past 2–3 decades. High rates of MRSA infection have been reported in Polynesian people living outside the Pacific Islands region, including in Alaska, Australia, and New Zealand, and have been attributed to infection with the Southwest Pacific clone of MRSA (sequence type [ST] 30 SCCmec type IV, referred to as Western Samoan phage pattern [WSPP] MRSA or the Oceania strain) [7,8,9,10]. The Southwest Pacific MRSA clone has spread as far as Europe and South America [4,12] This MRSA strain has been postulated to have arisen from a pandemic penicillin-resistant S. aureus strain, known as phage type 80/81, that caused serious hospital- and community-acquired infections during the 1950s [13].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
