Abstract
The information of molecular characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is essential for control and treatment of diseases caused by this medically important pathogen. A total of 577 clinical MRSA bloodstream isolates from six major hospitals in Taiwan were determined for molecular types, carriage of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and sasX genes and susceptibilities to 9 non-beta-lactam antimicrobial agents. A total of 17 genotypes were identified in 577 strains by pulsotyping. Five major pulsotypes, which included type A (26.2%, belonging to sequence type (ST) 239, carrying type III staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec), type F (18.9%, ST5-SCCmecII), type C (18.5%, ST59-SCCmecIV), type B (12.0%, ST239-SCCmecIII) and type D (10.9%, ST59-SCCmecVT/IV), prevailed in each of the six sampled hospitals. PVL and sasX genes were respectively carried by ST59-type D strains and ST239 strains with high frequencies (93.7% and 99.1%, respectively) but rarely detected in strains of other genotypes. Isolates of different genotypes and from different hospitals exhibited distinct antibiograms. Multi-resistance to ≥3 non-beta-lactams was more common in ST239 isolates (100%) than in ST5 isolates (97.2%, P = 0.0347) and ST59 isolates (8.2%, P<0.0001). Multivariate analysis further indicated that the genotype, but not the hospital, was an independent factor associated with muti-resistance of the MRSA strains. In conclusion, five common MRSA clones with distinct antibiograms prevailed in the major hospitals in Taiwan in 2010. The antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of invasive MRSA was mainly determined by the clonal distribution.
Highlights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was first reported in the United Kingdom in 1961 soon after the introduction of methicillin [1]
Hospitals I and II were located in northern Taiwan, Hospitals III and IV were located in central Taiwan, and Hospitals V and VI were located in southern Taiwan
A total of 577 MRSA isolates were included in this study (Table S1)
Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was first reported in the United Kingdom in 1961 soon after the introduction of methicillin [1]. Were reported mainly in European countries [2]. After a decline in the 1970s, new epidemic strains that differed from the original MRSAs emerged in Australia, the United States and the Irish Republic in the late 1970s and early 1980s and have prevailed in most of the hospitals in industrialised countries worldwide [3,4,5,6]. The evolution of MRSA has been further advanced over the past decade when the emergence of community-associated (CA)MRSA strains occurred [7,8]. The emerging community clones of MRSA were endemic in specific regions and spread between countries and continents. Evidence further indicated the entry of the CA-MRSA strains into healthcare facilities as a prevalent nosocomial pathogen [9,10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
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 call
