CHANGES IN MAJOR POPULATIONS OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IN BELGIUM

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.