1989 Volume 37 Issue 5 Pages 549-562
From September 1986 to May 1987, 269 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were collected from 19 hospitals. Forty three percent of the strains were resistant to methicillin (MRSA). The incidence of MRSA in S. aureus increased during the previous four years.
These strains were multi-resistant, also to β-lactams and one or more antimicrobial agents, but were susceptible to vancomycin, habekacin, rifampicin, ofloxacin, minocycline and sulphamethoxazoletrimethoprim. Staphylococci were among the most resistant clinical isolates in sputum and pus, with about 45% resistant to methicillin while most were multi-resistant.
The coagulase typing of 269 strains was done. The coagulase types in MSSA and MRSA were different, and the multiple-resistant strains were related to coagulase type II.
We conclude that methicillin-resistant S. aureus are important etiological agents of nosocomial infections and that the incidence of these infections has increased during the past four years.
