Tv. Riley et Il. Rouse, METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIA, 1983-1992, The Journal of hospital infection, 29(3), 1995, pp. 177-188
A statewide screening programme has prevented imported strains of meth
icillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from becoming establish
ed in any hospital in Western Australia (WA). Recently, notifications
of MRSA in WA have increased, prompting a review of surveillance data
for the period 1983-1992. Our aims were to determine: (i) the distribu
tion by age and sex of persons with MRSA; (ii) changes in notification
rates over time and by location in WA; and (iii) temporal changes in
antimicrobial resistance patterns. There were 631 notifications of MRS
A for the 10 year period 1983-1992, ranging from a low of 36 in 1988 t
o a high of 117 in 1992. When the distribution by age and sex was exam
ined, three age group peaks were apparent: 0-9 years, 20-39 years and
60-79 years. There was a predominance of females in the 20-39 years ag
e group, reflecting a greater proportion of hospital nursing staff car
rying MRSA. In those aged 50 years or more, there was a marked predomi
nance of males. The highest notification rates overall occurred in the
remote Kimberley region of WA, however, rates increased significantly
in all regions of the state in 1992. Based on antimicrobial resistanc
e patterns, MRSA was classified into two groups: multiresistant import
ed strains which often caused outbreaks in hospitals; and a less resis
tant MRSA (WA MRSA). WA MRSA appears to have originated in the Kimberl
ey region and then spread widely in the community to other regions of
the state, and the proportion of WA MRSA has increased significantly s
ince 1989.