Journal List > Korean J Clin Microbiol > v.13(1) > 1038186

Yi and Kim: Microbiological Characteristics of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a typical pathogen of nosocomial infection, and has recently emerged as an important community-acquired pathogen. MRSA is notorious as a multidrug-resistant organism. Its resistance to all β-lactams is mediated by PBP2a which is encoded by mecA, and it is also resistant to many antimicrobials of other classes due to frequently co-carrying resistance genes, which accounts for becoming a clinical and laboratory issue. This article reviews the microbiological characteristics, surveillance methods, and molecular epidemiology of MRSA.

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Fig. 1.
Yearly oxacillin resistance of S. aureus isolated from 12 hospitals in Korea during the period from 2002 to 2006.
kjcm-13-1f1.tif
Table 1.
Staphylococcus aureus exotoxins and genetic loci
Exotoxins Gene
Membrane-active agents  
 Alpha-toxin hla
 Beta-toxin hlb
 Delta-toxin hld
 Gamma-toxin hlg
 Panton-Valentine Leukocidin luk-PV
Pyrogenic toxin superantigens  
 Enterotoxins A-E sea, seb, sec, sed, see
 TSS toxin-1 tst
 SE-like toxins G-R, U seg, seh, sei, sej, sek, sel, sem, sen, seo, sep, seq, ser, seu
Exfoliative toxins  
 ETA eta
 ETB etb
Table 2.
Characteristics of CA-MRSA versus HA-MRSA
  CA-MRSA HA-MRSA
Risk factor Children, athletes, prisoners, soldiers, intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men Residence in longterm care facility, diabetes, dialysis, prolonged hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, indwelling medical devices
Type of infection Skin and soft tissue infections, necrotizing pneumonia Pneumonia, urinary tract infections, bacteremia, surgical
Multidrug resistance SCCmec type PVL production Rare (usually β-lactam resistance alone) Mainly IV Frequent (rare in Korea) site infections Common Rare Mainly I, II, and III

Abbreviations: CA, community-acquired; HA, healthcare-associated; MRSA, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; PVL, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin; SCC, staphylococcal cassette chromosome.

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