A fusidic acid-resistant clone of Staphylococcus aureus associated with impetigo bullosa is spreading in Norway

Objective: To investigate the possibility that the increased prevalence of fusidic acid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Norway is caused by clonal spread. Methods: Fusidic acid-resistant and -susceptible clinical isolates of S. aureus from patients with skin infections in the Norwegian county of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy 2002-12, Vol.50 (6), p.873-876
Main Authors: Tveten, Yngvar, Jenkins, Andrew, Kristiansen, Bjørn-Erik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibacterial agents
Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents
Biological and medical sciences
clonal
Clone Cells
Drug Resistance, Bacterial - genetics
Fusidic Acid - pharmacology
Humans
Impetigo - drug therapy
Impetigo - epidemiology
Impetigo - genetics
Medical sciences
MIC
Norway - epidemiology
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
pulsed-field gel electrophoresis
Staphylococcus aureus - genetics
Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification
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Summary:Objective: To investigate the possibility that the increased prevalence of fusidic acid-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Norway is caused by clonal spread. Methods: Fusidic acid-resistant and -susceptible clinical isolates of S. aureus from patients with skin infections in the Norwegian county of Telemark and fusidic acid-resistant isolates from other parts of Scandinavia were compared. MICs of fusidic acid for bacterial isolates and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were investigated. Prevalence data for fusidic acid-resistant S. aureus for the period 1992–2001 were obtained. Results: The prevalence of fusidic acid resistance in S. aureus increased from 1992 to 2001. Eighty per cent of the resistant isolates investigated shared an identical PFGE pattern. The same pattern was found in fusidic acid-resistant isolates from other parts of Scandinavia. Fusidic acid-resistant S. aureus was typically found in impetigo bullosa-like skin disease in children mostly in the summer months. Conclusions: Fusidic acid resistance among S. aureus is increasing in Norway and is predominantly caused by one clone of S. aureus. The clone may spread further to other countries, and dissemination may be facilitated by extensive use of topical fusidic acid.
ISSN:0305-7453
1460-2091
1460-2091
DOI:10.1093/jac/dkf217