Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

MRSA, Close and Personal Methods for differentiating pathogen isolates are essential for understanding their evolution and spread, as well as for the formulation of effective clinical strategies. Current typing methods for bacterial pathogens focus on a limited set of characteristics providing data with limited resolving power. Harris et al. (p. 469 ) used a high-throughput genome sequencing approach to show that isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are precisely differentiated into a global geographic structure. The findings suggest that intercontinental transmission has occurred for nearly four decades. The method could also detect individual person-to-person transmission events of MRSA within a hospital environment.

Original publication

DOI

10.1126/science.1182395

Type

Journal article

Journal

Science

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Publication Date

22/01/2010

Volume

327

Pages

469 - 474