Changing patterns among the subgroups of strains of Staphylococcus aureus of phage group II in Danish hospitals from 1961-91

TY - JOUR

T1 - Changing patterns among the subgroups of strains of Staphylococcus aureus of phage group II in Danish hospitals from 1961-91

AU - Eriksen, N H

AU - Hartzen, S H

AU - Bangsborg, Jette Marie

AU - Andersen, L P

AU - Rosdahl, V T

AU - Espersen, F

PY - 1994

Y1 - 1994

N2 - During the period 1961-91 a total of 567,635 strains of Staphylococcus aureus from hospitalized patients in Denmark have been characterized according to their antibiotic resistance, site of isolation and phage type. Strains of phage group II (typed by the phages 3A, 3C, 55 and 71) have been analysed further. The occurrence of group II strains was relatively constant (approximately 16%) from 1961 until 1983. Since then the frequency of group II strains increased; in 1991 they accounted for 22.7% of all S. aureus strains isolated. Strains of group II can, on the basis of their phage types, be divided in four subgroups: 3A, 71, 71+ and the 'rest of group II'. Furthermore, within these groups strains may differ from one another in respect to their sensitivity to phages. The increased isolation of group II strains during recent years was because of an increase in strains of subgroups 71+ and the 'rest of group II strains'. In 1991 these two subgroups accounted for 89.7% of all group II strains. Furthermore, an increasing number of group II strains, 71.4% in 1991, was typable only at RTD x 100. The increase in the number of group II strains was even throughout Denmark. All four subgroups of group II have, during the observation period, become more frequently resistant to penicillin and/or tetracycline. Strains typed at 100 x RTD of subgroup 71+ and the 'rest of group II' are more frequently antibiotic resistant than the rest of the group II strains. Strains of the increasing subgroups occurred most often in abscesses.

AB - During the period 1961-91 a total of 567,635 strains of Staphylococcus aureus from hospitalized patients in Denmark have been characterized according to their antibiotic resistance, site of isolation and phage type. Strains of phage group II (typed by the phages 3A, 3C, 55 and 71) have been analysed further. The occurrence of group II strains was relatively constant (approximately 16%) from 1961 until 1983. Since then the frequency of group II strains increased; in 1991 they accounted for 22.7% of all S. aureus strains isolated. Strains of group II can, on the basis of their phage types, be divided in four subgroups: 3A, 71, 71+ and the 'rest of group II'. Furthermore, within these groups strains may differ from one another in respect to their sensitivity to phages. The increased isolation of group II strains during recent years was because of an increase in strains of subgroups 71+ and the 'rest of group II strains'. In 1991 these two subgroups accounted for 89.7% of all group II strains. Furthermore, an increasing number of group II strains, 71.4% in 1991, was typable only at RTD x 100. The increase in the number of group II strains was even throughout Denmark. All four subgroups of group II have, during the observation period, become more frequently resistant to penicillin and/or tetracycline. Strains typed at 100 x RTD of subgroup 71+ and the 'rest of group II' are more frequently antibiotic resistant than the rest of the group II strains. Strains of the increasing subgroups occurred most often in abscesses.

KW - Abscess

KW - Bacteriophage Typing

KW - Bacteriuria

KW - Cicatrix

KW - Cross Infection

KW - Denmark

KW - Drug Resistance, Microbial

KW - Erythromycin

KW - Humans

KW - Penicillin Resistance

KW - Pharynx

KW - Staphylococcal Infections

KW - Staphylococcus aureus

KW - Tetracycline Resistance

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 8119367

SN - 0950-2688

VL - 112

SP - 81

EP - 92

JO - Epidemiology and Infection

JF - Epidemiology and Infection

IS - 1

ER -