Korean Journal of Clinical Microbiology  2010;13(1):1-6

doi:10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.1.1

Microbiological Characteristics of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Jongyoun YI 1 ; Eui Chong KIM

Affiliations

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Keywords

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; mecA; Carrier state; Molecular epidemiology

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

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 beta-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.