Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2010 Mar;13(1):1-6. 10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.1.1.

Microbiological Characteristics of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

• Yi J
• Kim EC

• KMID: 1828588
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.1.1

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a typical pathogen of nosocomial infection, and has recently emerged as an important community-acquired pathogen. MRSA is notorious as a multidrug-resistant organism. Its resistance to all beta-lactams is mediated by PBP2a which is encoded by mecA, and it is also resistant to many antimicrobials of other classes due to frequently co-carrying resistance genes, which accounts for becoming a clinical and laboratory issue. This article reviews the microbiological characteristics, surveillance methods, and molecular epidemiology of MRSA.

Keyword

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; mecA; Carrier state; Molecular epidemiology

MeSH Terms

Adenosine
beta-Lactams
Carrier State
Cross Infection
Methicillin Resistance
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Molecular Epidemiology
Adenosine
beta-Lactams

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Yearly oxacillin resistance of S. aureus isolated from 12 hospitals in Korea during the period from 2002 to 2006.

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