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Updated: Aug 6, 2026
12:18
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Phages for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an international trial
J F Richardson1, V T Rosdahl, W J van Leeuwen
1Campylobacter Reference Unit, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK.
Epidemiology and Infection
|June 4, 1999
Summary
New experimental phages significantly improve Staphylococcus aureus typing. These phages enhance the ability to identify methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, increasing typability and distinct lytic patterns for better global surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The international phage set for Staphylococcus aureus typing shows reduced efficacy against methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA).
- National typing centers utilize local experimental phages to overcome limitations with the international set.
- There is a need to augment the international phage set for improved MRSA characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define a phage set that augments the international typing set for Staphylococcus aureus.
- To evaluate the efficacy of locally isolated experimental phages in typing MRSA strains.
- To establish a more comprehensive phage-based surveillance system for MRSA.
Main Methods:
- Distribution of 42 experimental phages to 6 international centers.
- Testing of phages against 744 clinical isolates of MRSA.
- Selection and evaluation of a subset of 10 experimental phages.
Main Results:
- The use of experimental phages increased MRSA typability from 75% to 93%.
- The number of identifiable lytic patterns rose from 192 to 424 with the experimental set.
- A subset of 10 phages achieved 91% typability and yielded 370 distinct patterns.
Conclusions:
- Experimental phages significantly enhance the typing of MRSA strains.
- A selected subset of 10 phages shows high efficacy and is suitable for international trial.
- Augmenting the international phage set with these experimental phages improves global MRSA strain characterization and surveillance.
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