Methicillin Case Study

Methicillin became available for clinical use. The case of the problem has increased dramatically, with the prevalence of methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus reaching endemic proportions in some hospitals. The gene for PBP2a, mecA is located in the mec determinant, which is only found in resistant bacterial strains. In USA approximately 25% of S. aureus strains are resistant to methicillin where as in Canada the prevalence rate is less than 5% MRSA (Jones et al 1999). Crowcroft et al showed increasing mortality from MRSA in England and Wales paralleling the increase in bacteraemias (Crowcroft et al 2003). MRSA can carry virulence factors found in methicillin susceptible S. aureus, as shown in reports of MRSA associated toxic shock syndrome,