C. Wildemauwe et al., CHANGES IN MAJOR POPULATIONS OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IN BELGIUM, The Journal of hospital infection, 34(3), 1996, pp. 197-203
A total of 102 epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (M
RSA) isolates collected in 13 Belgian hospitals during two periods (19
81-1985 and 1991-1992) were tested for phage-type, for the presence of
aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AME), and examined by arbitrarily p
rimed polymerase chain reaction (AP-PCR). All isolates, but five, belo
nged to a few distinct phage-types of group III. Most isolates express
ed a combination of AAC(6')-APH(2 '') with APH(3')III, and ANT(4',4 ''
) or both. Both phage-typing and AME suggested a change in the MRSA po
pulation between the two periods but the AP-PCR method revealed only s
light differences.