Molecular Epidemiology of Community- and Health Care-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Manitoba, Canada

• Published in: Journal of Clinical Microbiology Vol. 43; no. 6; pp. 2830 - 2836
• Main Authors: Wylie, John L, Nowicki, Deborah L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for Microbiology 01.06.2005
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Community-Acquired Infections - epidemiology; Community-Acquired Infections - microbiology; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Manitoba - epidemiology; Medical sciences; Methicillin Resistance; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Molecular Epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcus aureus - classification; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Canada; Manitoba; North America; America; Microbiology; Molecular epidemiology; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Genotype; Micrococcaceae; Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/JCM.43.6.2830-2836.2005

Recently, acquisition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been increasingly seen in community settings. Beginning in 1995, we have routinely conducted pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of MRSA isolates received at Cadham Provincial Laboratory (CPL) in Manitoba, Canada. Our diverse collection of isolates coupled with molecular subtype information allowed us to assess the extent to which MRSA isolates in general were associated with community acquisition and whether specific PFGE types were more likely to be found in community settings. Forty percent of the MRSA isolates in our analysis were designated community associated (CA), with two of the six most common PFGE types showing a greater likelihood to be CA-MRSA. Overall, CA-MRSA were more likely to show multiple sensitivity to antibiotics and to be associated with younger age groups. Mapping of specific CA-MRSA types over successive 5-year periods showed rapid temporal shifts in prevalence in different parts of the province.