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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Prevalence of MRSA strains among Staphylococcus aureus isolated from outpatients, 2006

Geoffrey W Coombs1, Graeme R Nimmo, Julie C Pearson

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.

Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report
|July 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are increasing in Australian communities, driven by new community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clones. Over half of these CA-MRSA strains are now PVL-positive, raising concerns for skin infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The Australian Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (AGAR) has conducted biennial surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus antimicrobial resistance since 2000.
  • A significant increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was observed, rising from 10.3% in 2000 to 16% in 2006.
  • This rise was attributed to the emergence and spread of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clones across Australia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the trends and characteristics of MRSA in Australia based on surveillance data.
  • To identify the predominant MRSA clones, including CA-MRSA and healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA).
  • To assess the prevalence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) in MRSA isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of biennial community-based Staphylococcus aureus antimicrobial surveillance data collected by AGAR from 2000 to 2006.
  • Characterization of MRSA isolates to determine methicillin resistance and identify specific clones.
  • Detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) in MRSA isolates.

Main Results:

  • The overall percentage of S. aureus identified as MRSA increased from 10.3% in 2000 to 16% in 2006.
  • Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) accounted for 8.8% of community-onset S. aureus infections in 2006.
  • The Queensland (Qld) MRSA clone (ST93-MRSA-IV), a PVL-positive strain, became predominant and spread throughout Australia. International clones like USA300 MRSA were also identified.
  • Over 50% of CA-MRSA isolates in Australia were found to be PVL-positive by 2006.

Conclusions:

  • The epidemiology of CA-MRSA in Australia has shifted, with the emergence and national spread of PVL-positive clones.
  • The increasing prevalence of PVL-positive CA-MRSA poses a potential risk for increased skin and soft tissue infections, particularly among young Australians.
  • The rise of these highly transmissible MRSA strains necessitates ongoing surveillance and public health concern due to potential for increased hospitalizations.

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