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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: related infections and antibiotic resistance
Stefania Stefani1, Antonio Goglio
1Department of Microbiology, University of Catania, Via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy. stefanis@unict.it
Abstract:
Staphylococcus aureus is a well adapted human pathogen, capable of living freely in the inanimate environment and spreading from person to person, existing as a colonizer or commensal, hiding in intracellular compartments and, most importantly, inducing various forms of human disease. Infections caused by S. aureus, above all by antibiotic-resistant strains, have reached epidemic proportions globally. The overall burden of staphylococcal disease caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus, particularly by the methicillin-resistant strains, is increasing in many countries, including Italy, in both healthcare and community settings. The widespread use of antibiotics has undoubtedly accelerated the evolution of S. aureus, which, acquiring multiple resistance genes, has become able to survive almost all antibiotic families; this evolution versus more resistant phenotypes has continued among the newer agents, including linezolid and daptomycin. The diminished clinical usefulness of vancomycin is seen as one of the most worrisome problems in many clinical settings and in many countries. In fact, the increasing spread of heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) and vancomycin intermediate (VISA) strains adds new problems, not only in terms of the treatment of severe infections sustained by these microorganisms, but also in the microbiological definition of susceptibility.
Insights
Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a growing global health threat. Emerging resistance to vancomycin, including intermediate strains (VISA/hVISA), complicates treatment and diagnosis of staphylococcal infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile human pathogen causing significant disease globally.
- Antibiotic-resistant strains, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), represent a major public health concern.
- Increasing resistance to antibiotics, including newer agents, poses a challenge to effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the escalating global burden of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
- To discuss the evolution of S. aureus resistance mechanisms against various antibiotic classes.
- To address the growing problem of vancomycin resistance, including VISA and hVISA strains.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on Staphylococcus aureus epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance.
- Analysis of resistance trends in both healthcare and community settings.
- Examination of the clinical and microbiological implications of vancomycin-intermediate strains.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus infections, especially those caused by resistant strains, are increasing worldwide.
- S. aureus has evolved resistance to nearly all antibiotic classes due to widespread antibiotic use.
- The emergence and spread of vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) and heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (hVISA) complicate treatment and susceptibility testing.
Conclusions:
- Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus is a critical and worsening global health issue.
- The diminished effectiveness of vancomycin due to VISA and hVISA strains is a significant clinical challenge.
- Effective strategies are needed to combat the spread of resistant S. aureus and manage infections.
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