Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus in Mexico. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2011, vol.68, n.4, pp.262-270. ISSN 1665-1146.

Since the beginning of their selection, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains (MRSA) have disseminated worldwide. Although the problem was restricted at first to hospitals (HA-MRSA, hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), in the 1990s the first cases in patients with no history of hospitalization were reported. These new strains were referred to as CA-MRSA (community-acquired MRSA). As a result of the increasing resistance in hospitals (from 2% to 64% in 30 years), there is a current threat to public health in the community. The mechanisms that contributed to the selection of CA-MRSA are still controversial. In Mexico, information regarding this problem has been reduced to reports from tertiary-care level hospitals. Frequency of MRSA strains is high (50-85%). Therapeutic options are multiple, but a careful selection of the type of infection and patient risk factors must be acknowledged. Until now, the only useful preventive measure to contain bacterial resistance is appropriate antimicrobial use.

Keywords : antimicrobial resistance; MRSA; appropriate antibiotic use.