A SURVEY OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS FOR TYPING AND DRUG-RESISTANCE IN VARIOUS AREAS OF JAPAN DURING 1992 AND 1993

Abstract

Data on Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated at various areas in Japan during 1992 and 1993 were collected and analysed. Among 7, 033 strains examined, 60.3% were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 86% of which were isolated from inpatients. MRSA were isolated most often (38%) from departments of internal medicine, followed by departments of surgery (13%). The most frequent source of MRSA was sputa (38%), followed by pus (18%). As for coagulase types, 69% of MRSA were Type II and next most frequent was Type VII (24%). Among MSSA strains, Type VII (35%) and Type III (32%) were the most frequent. Frequencies of β-lactamaseproducing strains were 68% in MRSA and 59% in MSSA. More than 80% of MRSA strains were resistant to β-lactams. The frequencies of resistance to fosfomycin, ofloxacin, minocycline and gentamicin were 88%, 72%, 19% and 66%, respectively. Less than 3% of MRSA strains were resistant to arbekacin or vancomycin.