Development of mupirocin resistance among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after widespread use of nasal mupirocin ointment

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1996 Dec;17(12):811-3. doi: 10.1086/647242.

Abstract

All methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from colonized or infected patients in a 625-bed public teaching hospital during an epidemic, and for 3 years thereafter, underwent susceptibility testing to mupirocin. Mupirocin resistance among MRSA increased markedly over this period (1990, 2.7%; 1991, 8.0%; 1992, 61.5%; 1993, 65%) in association with increased use of mupirocin ointment as an adjunct to infection control measures.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Intranasal
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents*
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Humans
  • Infection Control
  • Methicillin Resistance*
  • Mupirocin*
  • Prevalence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Mupirocin