Rapid detection of the pandemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone ST 239, a dominant strain in Asian hospitals

J Clin Microbiol. 2008 Apr;46(4):1520-2. doi: 10.1128/JCM.02238-07. Epub 2008 Jan 30.

Abstract

We describe and validate a novel PCR assay to detect the pandemic hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) lineage ST 239. Results based on previously uncharacterized isolates from a hospital in northeast Thailand support the view that at least 90% of HA-MRSA isolates in mainland Asia correspond to ST 239 or close relatives.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asia / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Methicillin Resistance*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / classification
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Time Factors