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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
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Incidence of glycopeptide hetero-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus strains in Maltese hospitals

M A Borg1, R Zerafa, D Morrison

  • 1Infection Control Unit, St Luke's Hospital, Guardamangia, Malta. michael.a.borg@gov.mt

Clinical Microbiology and Infection : the Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
|April 12, 2005
PubMed

Insights

High rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus do not predict reduced susceptibility to glycopeptides. This study found low incidence of hetero-intermediate glycopeptide susceptibility in Malta despite high MRSA rates.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

  • High prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Malta.
  • Glycopeptides like vancomycin and teicoplanin are critical for treating MRSA infections.
  • Emergence of glycopeptide resistance is a significant public health concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incidence of hetero-intermediate glycopeptide susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus isolates in Malta.
  • To determine if high MRSA endemicity predicts the emergence of reduced glycopeptide susceptibility.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of 454 non-repetitive S. aureus isolates using teicoplanin-supplemented agar.
  • Further characterization using Etests for Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs).
  • Genotypic analysis to confirm findings.

Main Results:

  • All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin.
  • Four isolates (0.88%) displayed teicoplanin MICs greater than 12 mg/L, indicating hetero-intermediate susceptibility.
  • High MRSA endemicity in Malta did not correlate with increased glycopeptide non-susceptibility.

Conclusions:

  • The emergence of hetero-intermediate glycopeptide susceptibility in S. aureus is low in Malta.
  • High MRSA rates are not a reliable predictor for the development of glycopeptide resistance.
  • Continued surveillance for antimicrobial resistance is crucial.

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