Epidemiology of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying the novel mecC gene in Denmark corroborates a zoonotic reservoir with transmission to humans. (19th October 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Petersen, A.; Stegger, M.; Heltberg, O.; Christensen, J.; Zeuthen, A.; Knudsen, L. K.; Urth, T.; Sorum, M.; Schouls, L.; Larsen, J.; Skov, R.; Larsen, A. R.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 19:Number 1(2013:Jan.)
• Page Start: E16
• Page End: E22
• Publication Date: 2012-10-19
• Subjects: Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="sec-sum-1" sec-type="section"> <p> <italic>Clin Microbiol Infect</italic> </p> </sec> <sec id="abs1-1" sec-type="section"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Methicillin‐resistant <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare‐associated (HA), community‐associated (CA) and livestock‐associated (LA) infections. Recently, the discovery of human and bovine MRSA isolates carrying a new <italic>mecA</italic> gene homologue, <italic>mecA</italic><sub><italic>LGA251</italic></sub> (now designated <italic>mecC</italic>), has caused concern because they are not detected by conventional, confirmatory tests for MRSA. Very little is known about their frequency, epidemiology and possible transmission between livestock and humans. In this study, the epidemiology of the <italic>mecC</italic> isolates in Denmark was investigated by screening the national collections of MRSA cases (from 1988 onwards) and <italic>S. aureus</italic> bacteraemia cases (from 1958 onwards). Isolates carrying <italic>mecC</italic> were only recovered infrequently before 2003 (<italic>n</italic> = 2) but now seem to be increasing, with 110 cases in 2003–2011. Clinical data on <italic>mecC</italic>‐carrying MRSA demonstrated that <italic>mecC</italic>‐MRSA were primarily community‐acquired (CA‐MRSA) and affected persons typically living in rural areas, being older than other CA‐MRSA patients. Among 22 cases in Region Zealand, four reported contact with cattle and sheep. Two of these persons lived on farms with livestock positive for <italic>mecC</italic>‐carrying MRSA, sharing <italic>spa</italic> type (t843), MLVA (MT429) and PFGE pattern with the human isolates. These observations indicate that <italic>mecC</italic>‐carrying MRSA can be exchanged between humans and ruminants.</p> </sec> </abstract>