Multicity outbreak of linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis associated with clonal spread of a cfr-containing strain

Abstract

We report a multicity outbreak of cfr-containing linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in Ohio. Thirty-nine isolates were obtained from 2 hospitals. Two clones with different mechanisms of linezolid resistance were circulating in hospital A. One of these contained the cfr gene, and the other a ribosomal mutation. The clone containing cfr was identical in both hospitals. © 2010 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.