Definition
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is characterized by its resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics, including methicillin, dicloxacillin, and oxacillin. MRSA is an important nosocomial pathogen in terms of its virulence and survival fitness. In acute care facilities, there is selective advantage for MRSA survival as a result of antibiotic use and selection pressure. Multidrug-resistant pathogens, including MRSA, are being isolated at increased frequency in intensive care units (ICUs). National surveillance data has shown that MRSA is recovered in greater than 60% of S. aureus isolates from US intensive care units (ICUs) [1] and 24% of isolates from German ICUs.
MRSA Colonization
Colonization involves adherence of organisms to epithelial cells, proliferation and persistence at the site of attachment. Most antimicrobial-resistant bacteria colonize the skin and mucous membranes of the host...
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Lee, A.S., Harbarth, S.J. (2012). Infection Control in the ICU: MRSA Control. In: Vincent, JL., Hall, J.B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Intensive Care Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00418-6_62
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-00418-6_62
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