Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from an intensive care unit in Minas Gerais, Brazil, over a
Thiago C Nascimento1, Cláudio G Diniz1, Vânia L Silva1
1Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Departamento de Parasitologia, Microbiologia e Imunologia, Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil.
Abstract:
To characterize methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from an intensive care unit of a tertiary-care teaching hospital, between 2005 and 2010. A total of 45 isolates were recovered from patients admitted to the intensive care unit in the study period. Resistance rates higher than 80% were found for clindamycin (100%), erythromycin (100%), levofloxacin (100%), azithromycin (97.7%), rifampin (88.8%), and gentamycin (86.6%). The SCCmec typing revealed that the isolates harbored the types III (66.7%), II (17.8%), IV (4.4%), and I (2.2%). Four (8.9%) isolates carried non-typeable cassettes. Most (66.7%) of the isolates were related to the Brazilian endemic clone from CC8/SCCmec III, which was prevalent (89.3%) between 2005 and 2007, while the USA100/CC5/SCCmec II lineage emerged in 2007 and was more frequent in the last few years. The study showed high rates of antimicrobial resistance among methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates and the replacement of Brazilian clone, a well-established hospital lineage, by the USA100 in the late 2000s, at the intensive care unit under study.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates in an ICU showed high antimicrobial resistance. The Brazilian endemic clone was replaced by the USA100 lineage in the late 2000s.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of hospital-acquired infections, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
- Understanding the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of MRSA is crucial for effective infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize MRSA isolates from an ICU between 2005 and 2010.
- To analyze antimicrobial resistance profiles and SCCmec types.
- To investigate clonal shifts within the ICU population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 45 MRSA isolates from ICU patients (2005-2010).
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
- SCCmec typing to determine genetic profiles.
Main Results:
- High resistance rates observed for clindamycin (100%), erythromycin (100%), levofloxacin (100%), azithromycin (97.7%), rifampin (88.8%), and gentamycin (86.6%).
- SCCmec types III (66.7%), II (17.8%), IV (4.4%), and I (2.2%) were identified.
- The Brazilian endemic clone (CC8/SCCmec III) dominated initially (89.3% from 2005-2007), but the USA100/CC5/SCCmec II lineage emerged and became more frequent later.
Conclusions:
- MRSA isolates in this ICU exhibit high levels of antimicrobial resistance.
- A significant clonal replacement occurred, with the USA100 lineage supplanting the previously dominant Brazilian clone in the late 2000s.
