Skip to main content
PMC home page
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1982 Aug;16(2):218–223. doi: 10.1128/jcm.16.2.218-223.1982

Methicillin-resistant-Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection in a rehabilitation facility.

G D Aeilts, F L Sapico, H N Canawati, G M Malik, J Z Montgomerie
PMCID: PMC272333  PMID: 6922133

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection in a rehabilitation hospital (Rancho Los Amigos Hospital [RLAH]) were studied from October 1977 to May 1980. Eighty-four episodes of MRSA colonization or infection were observed in 81 patients (attack rate, 0.44 per 100 admissions). The MRSA was considered to have been acquired at RLAH in 65% of the episodes and from transferring hospitals in 34%. The infection rate was 35% among MRSA-colonized patients, and only one death was attributed to MRSA infection. Colonization for more than 100 days occurred most frequently in wounds and anterior nares. All but two of the MRSA isolates were resistant to aminoglycosides, and 80% of those typed belonged to phage type 83A. The patients were allowed to continue participation in rehabilitation programs. Spread of the MRSA occurred in wards where intensive medical and nursing care was being practiced. There was no evidence of MRSA spread in the services with less intense medical and nursing care and where physical and occupational therapy was continued. Patients in a rehabilitation hospital with MRSA colonization may receive intensive physical and occupational therapy as long as special precautions are observed to prevent MRSA spread.

Full text

PDF
218

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BARBER M. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci. J Clin Pathol. 1961 Jul;14:385–393. doi: 10.1136/jcp.14.4.385. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barrett F. F., McGehee R. F., Jr, Finland M. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at Boston City Hospital. Bacteriologic and epidemiologic observations. N Engl J Med. 1968 Aug 29;279(9):441–448. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196808292790901. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Barry A. L., Garcia F., Thrupp L. D. An improved single-disk method for testing the antibiotic susceptibility of rapidly-growing pathogens. Am J Clin Pathol. 1970 Feb;53(2):149–158. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/53.2.149. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Bauer A. W., Kirby W. M., Sherris J. C., Turck M. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. Am J Clin Pathol. 1966 Apr;45(4):493–496. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Benner E. J., Kayser F. H. Growing clinical significance of methcillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Lancet. 1968 Oct 5;2(7571):741–744. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(68)90947-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Boyce J. M., Landry M., Deetz T. R., DuPont H. L. Epidemiologic studies of an outbreak of nosocomial methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Infect Control. 1981 Mar-Apr;2(2):110–116. doi: 10.1017/s0195941700053881. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bulger R. J. In vitro studies on highly resistant small colony variants of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin. J Infect Dis. 1969 Oct;120(4):491–494. doi: 10.1093/infdis/120.4.491. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Canawati H. N., Sapico F. L., Montgomerie J. Z., Zucchero J. Temperature effect on cephalothin sensitivity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Am J Clin Pathol. 1981 Mar;75(3):391–394. doi: 10.1093/ajcp/75.3.391. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Check W. New study shows hexachlorophene is teratogenic in humans. JAMA. 1978 Aug 11;240(6):513–514. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Chilcote R., Curley A., Loughlin H. H., Jupin J. A. Hexachlorophene storage in a burn patient associated with encephalopathy. Pediatrics. 1977 Mar;59(3):457–459. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Crossley K., Landesman B., Zaske D. An outbreak of infections caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and aminoglycosides. II. Epidemiologic studies. J Infect Dis. 1979 Mar;139(3):280–287. doi: 10.1093/infdis/139.3.280. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Crossley K., Loesch D., Landesman B., Mead K., Chern M., Strate R. An outbreak of infections caused by strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and aminoglycosides. I. Clinical studies. J Infect Dis. 1979 Mar;139(3):273–279. doi: 10.1093/infdis/139.3.273. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. DAVIES R. R., NOBLE W. C. Dispersal of bacteria on desquamated skin. Lancet. 1962 Dec 22;2(7269):1295–1297. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(62)90849-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. DAVIES R. R., NOBLE W. C. Dispersal of staphylococci on desquamated skin. Lancet. 1963 May 18;1(7290):1111–1111. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(63)92159-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Dyke K. G., Jevons M. P., Parker M. T. Penicillinase production and intrinsic resistance to penicillins in Staphylococcus aures. Lancet. 1966 Apr 16;1(7442):835–838. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(66)90182-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. KNOX R., SMITH J. T. The nature of penicillin resistance in staphylococci. Lancet. 1961 Sep 2;2(7201):520–522. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(61)92958-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Klimek J. J., Marsik F. J., Bartlett R. C., Weir B., Shea P., Quintiliani R. Clinical, epidemiologic and bacteriologic observations of an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a large community hospital. Am J Med. 1976 Sep;61(3):340–345. doi: 10.1016/0002-9343(76)90370-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lacey R. W. Antibiotic resistance plasmids of Staphylococcus aureus and their clinical importance. Bacteriol Rev. 1975 Mar;39(1):1–32. doi: 10.1128/br.39.1.1-32.1975. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Noone P., Griffiths R. J., Taylor C. E. Hexachlorophane for treating carriers of Staphylococcus aureus. Lancet. 1970 Jun 6;1(7658):1202–1203. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)91788-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. O'Toole R. D., Drew W. L., Dahlgren B. J., Beaty H. N. An outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection. Observations in hospital and nursing home. JAMA. 1970 Jul 13;213(2):257–263. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Parker M. T., Hewitt J. H. Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. Lancet. 1970 Apr 18;1(7651):800–804. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)92408-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Peacock J. E., Jr, Marsik F. J., Wenzel R. P. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: introduction and spread within a hospital. Ann Intern Med. 1980 Oct;93(4):526–532. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-93-4-526. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Rountree P. M., Beard M. A. Hospital strains of Staphylococcus aureus, with particular reference to methicillin-resistant strains. Med J Aust. 1968 Dec 28;2(26):1163–1168. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1968.tb83502.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Sapico F. L., Montgomerie J. Z., Canawati H. N., Aeilts G. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria. Am J Med Sci. 1981 Mar-Apr;281(2):101–109. doi: 10.1097/00000441-198103000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Shanson D. C., Kensit J. C., Duke R. Outbreak of hospital infection with a strain of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to gentamicin and methicillin. Lancet. 1976 Dec 18;2(7999):1347–1348. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)91986-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Speller D. C., Raghunath D., Stephens M., Viant A. C., Reeves D. S., Wilkinson P. J., Broughall J. M., Holt H. A. Epidemic infection by a gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in three hospitals. Lancet. 1976 Feb 28;1(7957):464–466. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)91485-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Vernon G. N., Russell A. D. Effects of methicillin, cephaloridine and cephalothin on the growth, lysis and viability of some methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus at different temperatures. J Antimicrob Chemother. 1976 Mar;2(1):41–48. doi: 10.1093/jac/2.1.41. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES