Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 8, 2026

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
14:04

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

[Changes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) phagotypes in Gdansk in 1990-1998]

K Wiśniewska1, L Piechowicz, J Galiński

  • 1Katedra i Zakład Mikrobiologii Lekarskiej AM w Gdańsku.

Medycyna Doswiadczalna I Mikrobiologia
|April 5, 2001
PubMed

Insights

A new Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) phagotype, MR25/M5, emerged and predominated in Gdańsk hospitals between 1997-1998, showing multi-drug resistance. This new strain replaced previously common MRSA phagotypes, indicating a significant shift in circulating strains.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Context:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in hospital settings.
  • Monitoring the evolution and prevalence of MRSA strains is crucial for effective infection control.
  • Previous studies documented specific MRSA phagotypes in the Gdańsk region during the early 1990s.

Purpose:

  • To assess the changes in occurrence of various MRSA phagotypes in Gdańsk area hospitals from 1990 to 1998.
  • To characterize the drug resistance patterns of predominant MRSA strains.
  • To identify emerging MRSA strains and track the decline of previously common ones.

Summary:

  • The study analyzed 175 MRSA strains isolated between 1990-1998 from 18 hospitals in the Gdańsk area.
  • A new MRSA phagotype, MR25/M5, emerged and predominated (57.7%) in 1997-1998, exhibiting resistance to multiple antibiotics including doxycycline, gentamycin, and erythromycin.
  • Previously dominant phagotypes, such as MR8/MR12/MR25/30/33/38/M5/622, significantly decreased or disappeared, while MR25/M5 showed reduced susceptibility to fusidic acid.

Impact:

  • Identified the emergence and dominance of a new, multi-drug resistant MRSA phagotype (MR25/M5) in a specific geographic region.
  • Demonstrated a significant epidemiological shift in circulating MRSA strains over a decade.
  • Highlighted the changing susceptibility patterns of MRSA to antibiotics like fusidic acid, necessitating updated treatment guidelines.

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Evolution of Microbial Genome01:08

Evolution of Microbial Genome

Microbial genome evolution is a highly dynamic process shaped by continual gene gain and loss across species and strains. This genomic flexibility allows microorganisms to adapt rapidly to environmental pressures and interactions with other organisms. Central to understanding this diversity is the distinction between the core and pan genomes.The core genome comprises the genes shared by all sampled strains of a species, representing essential functions needed for fundamental cellular processes.
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...