cfr and fexA genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from humans and livestock in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: Although the Netherlands is a country with a low endemic level of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a national MRSA surveillance has been in place since 1989. In 2003 livestock emerged as a major reservoir of MRSA and currently livestock-associated MRSA (clonal complex CC398) make up 25% of all surveillance isolates. To assess possible transfer of resistant strains or resistance genes, MRSA obtained from humans and animals were characterized in detail. METHODS: The sequenced genomes of 6327 MRSA surveillance isolates from humans and from 332 CC398 isolates from li... Mehr ...