The aim of this study was to investigate the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones isolated in a Dutch university hospital, situated near the borders of Belgium and Germany, between 2002 and 2006. MRSA strains (n = 175) were characterized using spa and SCCmec typing. The presence of Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) was determined. Between 2002 and 2005, ST5-MRSA-IV was predominant, and the spa type of ST5-MRSA-IV changed from t002 to t447. ST5-MRSA-I, ST5-MRSA-II, ST228-MRSA-I, and ST247-MRSA-I were also observed in this period. From 2004, the MRSA genetic background became more diverse, and in 2006, ST5-MRSA-IV was only sporadically observed. From 2005, ST5-MRSA-II, ST8-MRSA-IV, ST22-MRSA-IV, and ST45-MRSA-IV were increasingly observed. Several other MRSA clones, such as ST239-MRSA-III, were found sporadically. Four PVL-positive MRSA isolates were observed, associated with ST80-MRSA-IV and ST8-MRSA-IV. ST5-MRSA-I, ST5-MRSA-II, ST5-MRSA-IV, and ST228-MRSA-I have not been described previously in The Netherlands.
The aim of this study was to investigate the methicillin - resistant Staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) clones isolated in a Dutch university hospital , situated near the borders of Belgium and Germany , between 2002 and 2006 . MRSA strains ( n = 175 ) were characterized using spa and SCCmec typing . The presence of Panton Valentine leukocidin ( PVL ) was determined . Between 2002 and 2005 , ST5-MRSA - IV was predominant , and the spa type of ST5-MRSA - IV changed from t002 to t447 . ST5-MRSA - I , ST5-MRSA - II , ST228-MRSA - I , and ST247-MRSA - I were also observed in this period . From 2004 , the MRSA genetic background became more diverse , and in 2006 , ST5-MRSA - IV was only sporadically observed . From 2005 , ST5-MRSA - II , ST8-MRSA - IV , ST22-MRSA - IV , and ST45-MRSA - IV were increasingly observed . Several other MRSA clones , such as ST239-MRSA - III , were found sporadically . Four PVL - positive MRSA isolates were observed , associated with ST80-MRSA - IV and ST8-MRSA - IV . ST5-MRSA - I , ST5-MRSA - II , ST5-MRSA - IV , and ST228-MRSA - I have not been described previously in The Netherlands .
What is MRSA?
What is MRSA ?
MRSA
methicillin-resistant S. aureus MRSA