Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Study of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates from high risk patients

S Vidhani1, P L Mehndiratta, M D Mathur

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.

Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology
|August 1, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing hospital threat. This study found over half of Staphylococcus aureus isolates in burns and orthopaedic units were MRSA, showing high multidrug resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical microbiology
  • Infectious diseases
  • Hospital epidemiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant nosocomial pathogen with increasing incidence.
  • High-risk patient populations, such as those in burns and orthopaedic units, are particularly vulnerable to MRSA infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the infection rate of MRSA in high-risk patients admitted to burns and orthopaedic units.
  • To characterize the antibiotic resistance patterns and phage types of MRSA isolates from these units.

Main Methods:

  • Collection and analysis of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients in burns and orthopaedic units.
  • Determination of MRSA proportion among Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
  • Assessment of multidrug resistance profiles, phage typing, and biotyping of MRSA isolates.

Main Results:

  • MRSA accounted for 51.6% of all Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
  • MRSA isolates exhibited multidrug resistance.
  • Phage typing yielded a typeability of 41.8%, and biotyping classified isolates into four groups.

Conclusions:

  • A high incidence of MRSA was observed in burns and orthopaedic units.
  • MRSA isolates from these units demonstrate a significant level of antibiotic resistance.
  • Findings highlight the need for enhanced infection control strategies in high-risk hospital settings.

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...
Rapid Identification of Pathogens01:25

Rapid Identification of Pathogens

MALDI-TOF MS has transformed clinical microbiology by offering a rapid and reliable method for pathogen identification. The traditional approach to microbial identification typically involves time-consuming culture techniques and biochemical tests, which can delay the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. MALDI-TOF MS avoids these delays by using characteristic ribosomal protein mass patterns of microbial cells, enabling accurate species-level identification within minutes.Principle...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview