Evolution and Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance: Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a potentially pathogenic bacterium that causes a wide range of diseases. These are causing different infections and resistance mechanism due to of its wide virulence factors. The increase in the resistance of this virulent pathogen to antibiotic, day by day increases as a nosocomial infection is a major health concern. The main resistance phenotype associated with the S. aureus in hospital is methicillin resistance followed by vancomycin resistance. Resistance to methicillin and other b-lactam antibiotics is produced by the mecA gene, which is located on a portable genetic element, the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec). Center for disease control and prevention (CDC) approximates 80,461 hostile Methicillin resistance staphylococcal (MRSA) infections and 11,285 associated deaths occurred in 2011.