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Waves of resistance: Staphylococcus aureus in the antibiotic era

2009; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 7; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/nrmicro2200

1740-1534

Henry F. Chambers, Frank R. DeLeo,

Streptococcal Infections and Treatments

Epidemics caused by antibiotic-resistant strains ofStaphylococcus aureus often occur in waves. Here, Henry Chambers and Frank DeLeo review the molecular epidemiology of the epidemic waves of penicillin- and methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus that have occurred since 1940, with a focus on community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Staphylococcus aureus is notorious for its ability to become resistant to antibiotics. Infections that are caused by antibiotic-resistant strains often occur in epidemic waves that are initiated by one or a few successful clones. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) features prominently in these epidemics. Historically associated with hospitals and other health care settings, MRSA has now emerged as a widespread cause of community infections. Community or community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) can spread rapidly among healthy individuals. Outbreaks of CA-MRSA infections have been reported worldwide, and CA-MRSA strains are now epidemic in the United States. Here, we review the molecular epidemiology of the epidemic waves of penicillin- and methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus that have occurred since 1940, with a focus on the clinical and molecular epidemiology of CA-MRSA.