Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
14:04
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Glycopeptide resistance in staphylococci.
1Department of Bacteriology, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
|October 13, 2006
Summary
Glycopeptide antibiotics are crucial for treating resistant Gram-positive bacteria. This review examines emerging glycopeptide resistance in staphylococci, covering resistance mechanisms, spread, and treatment strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Glycopeptide antibiotics are vital for treating multidrug-resistant Gram-positive pathogens like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and enterococci.
- Emerging vancomycin resistance in enterococci and low-level glycopeptide resistance in staphylococci pose significant clinical challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of glycopeptide resistance in staphylococcal strains.
- To discuss the epidemiology and control measures for these resistant staphylococci.
- To explore current and potential therapeutic options for infections caused by these pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on glycopeptide resistance in staphylococci.
- Analysis of epidemiological data on the prevalence of resistant strains.
- Synthesis of information on resistance mechanisms and clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcal strains exhibiting low-level glycopeptide resistance are increasingly reported in clinical settings.
- Understanding resistance mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatment strategies.
- Control measures and alternative therapeutic options are needed to combat these infections.
Conclusions:
- Glycopeptide resistance in staphylococci represents a growing threat to public health.
- Comprehensive strategies encompassing surveillance, infection control, and novel therapeutics are essential.
- Further research into resistance mechanisms and treatment efficacy is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Bacterial cell walls are typically rigid structures composed mainly of peptidoglycan, a mesh-like polymer that provides mechanical strength and maintains cell shape. The synthesis of peptidoglycan is a crucial process in bacterial growth and serves as a primary target for many antibiotics.Mechanism of Action of Beta-Lactam AntibioticsBeta-lactam antibiotics, such as penicillin, inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis in actively growing cells. These antibiotics share a characteristic four-membered...
01:25Mechanism 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...
01:25Clinical 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...
01:30Development 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...
01:25Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
01:29Staphylococcal 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...