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ADVANCE Discourse: Lab

New Virulent Strain of MRSA Resistant to Vancomycin

Published November 5, 2009 2:37 PM by Kelly Graham
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The recent meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America featured a study from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit assessing a new strain of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The strain, called USA600, is associated with poorer outcomes than other strains of MRSA and is associated with vancomycin resistance—the drug primarily used to treat MRSA.

 

According to the study, the strain typically appears in older, sicker patients with comorbidities and frequently occurs in nursing homes. Mortality in patients with USA600 was 50% in the study, although overall incidence was low and didn’t seem to grow over the past three years.

 

While this particular strain, in the scheme of all things MRSA, might not be of great concern now, remember that other strains of MRSA were once primarily a healthcare-associated infection, but community-acquired MRSA is now common.

 

Has your lab seen the MRSA USA600 strain yet? What strains do you see most frequently?
posted by Kelly Graham
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2 comments
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Thanks for your feedback, Eddie. We strive to provide the most relevant information and facilitate informative discussions.

The increase of MRSA carriers and infections in the past decade or two has certainly been troubling and is something we'll continue to cover. In fact, we just added an update on rapid testing for MRSA to the homepage: http://laboratory-manager.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=210465

Kelly Graham, ADVANCE - Web Editor, November 18, 2009 9:27 AM

This is a wonderful site and opportunity for lab folks ,working or retired, to offer feedback and exchange of anecdotal information regarding timely topics. As a micro lab owner and supervisor I was able to observe the increasing rates of nasal carriage of MRSA in pediatric cultures submitted to our lab during the time span of 1992-2002 unfortunately preceding a portal of information exchange such as you have now provided. Keep up the good work! Eddie Lockamy
Eddie Lockamy(SM00089), retired November 18, 2009 8:18 AM
Athens GA

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