Cited by 2,718Antimicrobial Resistance in StaphylococcusAntibiotic Use and ResistanceAntibiotic Resistance in Bacteria

Waves of resistance: Staphylococcus aureus in the antibiotic era

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Chambers, Henry F., DeLeo, Frank R.·2009·Nature Reviews Microbiology

Abstract

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.

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  • Production of PBP2a is the hallmark of methicillin resistance in S. aureus.

    “These events culminate with the production of PBP2a, which is the hallmark of methicillin resistance in S. aureus (70).”

    From Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance (2016) · cites this paper as [70]

  • Community-associated MRSA strains appear to harbor shorter SCCmec cassettes such as type IV and carry fewer antibiotic resistance determinants, whereas hospital-associated isolates possess longer elements such as type II and are usually multidrug resistant.

    “Indeed, community-associated MRSA strains appear to harbor shorter SCCmec cassettes (e.g SCCmec type IV) and carry less antibiotic resistance determinants, whereas hospital-associated (HA) isolates possess longer elements (e.g. SCCmec type II) and are usually multidrug resistant (70).”

    From Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance (2016) · cites this paper as [70]

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Authors
Chambers, H. F., & DeLeo, F. R.
Affiliations
  • San Francisco General Hospital (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Chambers, Henry F.
Venue
Nature Reviews Microbiology
Published
2009-09
Volume
7
Issue
9
Pages
629-641
ISSN
  • 1740-1526 (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-1534
OpenAlex
W2151150074
Cited by
2,718
References
198
Citations by year
2026: 132 · 2025: 170 · 2024: 172 · 2023: 192 · 2022: 220 · 2021: 200 · 2020: 194 · 2019: 175 · 2018: 185 · 2017: 159 · 2016: 176 · 2015: 130 · 2014: 138 · 2013: 162 · 2012: 132
FWCI
12.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Microbiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI070289, T32AI007641)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology › Antibiotic Use and Resistance
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Medicine › Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria
Keywords
Staphylococcus aureus, antibiotic resistance, community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, penicillin resistance, methicillin resistance, epidemic waves, molecular epidemiology, MRSA outbreak, clonal spread, nosocomial infections
MeSH terms
Anti-Bacterial Agents, Cross Infection, Disease Outbreaks, Humans, Penicillin Resistance, Staphylococcal Infections, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistance, Community-Acquired Infections, Molecular Epidemiology

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