Logo image
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Australia
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Australia

G.R. Nimmo and G.W. Coombs
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, Vol.31(5), pp.401-410
2008
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

A series of epidemics of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) have occurred in Australia, starting in Western Australia in the early 1990s, in the Northern Territory soon thereafter and in eastern states in the mid 1990s. The Western Australian epidemic has been due mainly to Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-negative clones, whilst PVL-positive clones have predominated in the east. More recently, the major epidemic clones have spread throughout the country, whilst multiple new minor clones have emerged, mainly in Western Australia. A total of 45 clones of CA-MRSA have been detected in Australia to date: 30 of these carry SCCmec IV, 6 carry SCCmec V and 9 carry novel SCCmec types. Overall, CA-MRSA clones have been associated predominantly with skin and soft-tissue infections. PVL-positive clones have been associated with furunculosis, necrotising pneumonia and osteomyelitis and have caused fatalities in otherwise healthy children and young adults. Initial treatment of these infections remains problematic, as it is frequently inappropriate. Of particular concern, healthcare-associated acquisition of CA-MRSA clones is now increasing, although major hospital outbreaks have not occurred yet.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Metrics

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.23 Antibiotics & Antimicrobials
1.23.173 MRSA and VRE
Web Of Science research areas
Infectious Diseases
Microbiology
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
ESI research areas
Pharmacology & Toxicology
Logo image