The Emergence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: RICHARD P. WENZEL
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1982)

Editorials1 September 1982The Emergence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusRICHARD P. WENZEL, M.D.RICHARD P. WENZEL, M.D.Author, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-97-3-440 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThis issue features a series of papers on strains ofStaphylococcus aureusthat are resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents, most notably the penicillinase-resistant penicillins, including methicillin. These strains were recognized in Europe soon after the introduction of methicillin in 1960 (1). Outbreaks of hospital-acquired infection occurred during that time in many European institutions, where these multiply resistant strains frequently persisted as endemic nosocomial pathogens. However, similar epidemics were rarely reported from other parts of the world (2, 3). Renewed interest in multiply resistantS. aureushas been generated by numerous recent reports of outbreaks of nosocomial infection caused by these...References1. CHABBERTBAUDENS YJ. Staphylococcus strains naturally resistant to methicillin and 5-methyl-3-phenyl-4-iso-oxazolyl-penicillin. Ann Inst Pasteur (Paris). 1962;103:222-30 (Fr.). MedlineGoogle Scholar2. ROUNTREEBEARD PM. Hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus with particular reference to methicillin-resistant strains. Med J Aust. 1968;2:1163-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. O'TOOLEDREWDAHLGRENBEATY RWBH. An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Observations in hospital and nursing home. JAMA. 1970;213:257-63. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. HALEYHIGHTOWERKHABBAZ RAR. The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in United States hospitals: possible role of the house staff-patient transfer circuit. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:297-308. LinkGoogle Scholar5. 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Mechanisms of resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:339-44. LinkGoogle Scholar19. KUHLPATTEEBALDWIN SPJ. Chromosomal map location of the methicillin resistance determinant in Staphylococcus aureus. J Bacteriol. 1978;135:460-5. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar20. HARTMANTOMASZ BA. Altered penicillin-binding proteins in methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1981;19:726-35. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar21. THOMPSONFISHERWENZEL RKR. In vitro activity of N-formimidoyl thienamycin and other beta-lactam antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1982;21:341-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar22. ACARCOURVALINCHABBERT JPY. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcemia: bacteriological failure of treatment with cephalosporins. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1970;10:280-5. MedlineGoogle Scholar23. MYERSLINNEMAN JC. Bacteremia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J. Infect Dis. 1982;145:532-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar24. BOYCELANDRYDEETZDUPONT JMTH. Epidemiologic studies of an outbreak of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Infect Control. 1981;2:110-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar25. WATANAKUNAKORN C. Treatment of infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:376-8. LinkGoogle Scholar26. SORRELLPACKHMANSHANKERFOLDESMUNRO TDSMR. Vancomycin therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:344-50. LinkGoogle Scholar27. CLEARYMAURER TD. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: susceptibility testing by an automated system, Autobac I. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 7978;13:837-41. CrossrefGoogle Scholar28. STANECKGLENNSTURMDISPERSIOKRAFCZYK JSRJT. Detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus using Autobac I and MS-2. 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