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Outbreak of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a cluster analysis
J Yoshida1, T Nagata, Y Nishioka
1Department of Surgery, National Shimonoseki Hospital, Japan.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|December 1, 1996
Summary
This study tracked multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreaks over eight years. Cluster analysis revealed yearly shifts, indicating the emergence of new resistant phenotypes and aiding in tracking spread patterns.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Investigated eight-year outbreaks of multi-drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- Aimed to prevent future endemic spread of resistant strains.
- Focused on hospital-acquired infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the epidemiology of MRSA outbreaks.
- To identify patterns in the emergence and spread of resistant strains.
- To evaluate cluster analysis as a tool for tracking MRSA.
Main Methods:
- Collected 786 MRSA isolates from 155 in-patients over eight years.
- Performed cluster analysis and canonical discriminant analysis.
- Utilized bacteriologic biotyping and antibiotic sensitivity testing against 21 drugs.
Main Results:
- Specialty surgical wards had the highest MRSA isolate counts (59.8%).
- Four of six identified clusters were predominant in general surgical wards.
- Canonical discriminant analysis showed temporal and spatial localization of clusters, with yearly shifts indicating new MRSA phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Cluster analysis combined with biotyping and sensitivity testing effectively supplements traditional methods for tracing MRSA spread.
- Identified yearly emergence of new MRSA phenotypes.
- Highlights the utility of statistical analysis in understanding microbial epidemiology.