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Mechanisms of Methicillin Resistance in Staphylcoccus aureus and Methods for Laboratory Detection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

James H. Jorgensen
James H. Jorgensen*
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas
*
University of Texas Health Science Center, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, San Antonio, TX 78284-7750
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Abstract

Three distinctly different mechanisms of methicillin resistance have been described in Staphylococcus aureus. The best-documented and probably most important mechanism is production of a unique, low affinity penicillin-binding protein, PBP 2a Strains possessing PBP 2a are resistant to methicillin, oxacillin, and probably all other currently available b-lactam antibiotics. Two additional mechanisms of reduced susceptibility to methicillin have been described. Borderline resistance (BORSA) to the semi-synthetic penicillins has been attributed to the hyperproduction of normal staphylococcal b-lactamase. A third mechanism has recently been advanced that describes an intermediate level of resistance to methicillin due to production of modified, normal PBPs with reduced affinity for b-lactams (MODSA). Little is known regarding the prevalence or clinical significance of the BORSA and MODSA strains. The most reliable in vitro susceptibility test methods for detecting MRSA (strains possessing PBP 2,) include the microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test (with 2% NaCl supplemented broth), the oxacillin agar screen plate test (incorporating 6 ug/ml oxacillin in 4% NaCl supplemented agar), and the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) disk diffusion test with oxacillin. All three methods use direct inoculum preparation and incubation of tests at 35°C for a full 24 hours.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 1991 , pp. 14 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1991

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