Penicillinase production in community strains of staphylococcus aureus

A survey of penicillinase production in 406 strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from wounds in the County of Uppsala in 1975 showed that 76% of strains from inpatients produced penicillinase compared to 69% of the outpatient strains. The frequency of penicillinase production in Staph. aureus strains from surgical staff was 59%. 51% of strains from school children and 38% of strains from healthy adults produced penicillinase. The conclusions are that ordinary penicillinase-sensitive penicillin should not be used for treating infections in outpatients unless the isolated aureus strain has been shown to be penicillinase-negative.