Original scientific paper

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Croatia

Ana Budimir ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, KBC Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Zrinka Bošnjak ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, KBC Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Smilja Kalenić ; Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, KBC Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common microorganisms in humans that can colonize (carriage) multiple body sites, but in certain circumstances, also cause very severe infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus plays an important role in modern microbiology and infection control procedures. It is estimated that the number of infections caused by MRSA is 171,200 per year in the European Union, Iceland and Norway. This number represents 44% of all infections associated with health care in these countries. The burden of MRSA colonization and infection has recently been transferred to other ecological niches, from those well-known, so that today there are MRSA isolates among outpatient population (community acquired MRSA) and in samples from domestic animals (livestock-associated MRSA). New developments have been recorded in the genetic background of methicillin resistance. In fact, a novel mecAhomologue designated mecC was recently discovered, but since the homology between these two elements is relatively small, molecular tests for detection of mecAdo not detect mecC. Adistinct trend of decreasing prevalence of MRSAin different European countries and in Croatia occurs as a result of longtime policy of multifactorial approach to hospital infection control and intensifying campaigns for hand hygiene.

Keywords

Staphylococcus aureus; MRSA infections; mecA; mecC; clonal complexes

Hrčak ID:

98100

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/98100

Publication date:

30.9.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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