Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and public fomites: a review

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus genus is a Gram-positive coccus normally associated with skin and mucous membranes of warm-blooded animals. It is part of the commensal human microflora, or found in animals, or contaminating surfaces in the community and hospital settings. Staphylococcus aureus is the most pathogenic species belonging to this genus, as it possesses a collection of virulence factors that are expressed solely to evade the immune system. The increase in the misuse of antimicrobial agents predisposed S. aureus to develop antibiotic resistance, including the resistance to methicillin which led to the emergence of Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (MRSA). MRSA is considered one of the most dangerous nosocomial pathogens causing many hard to treat infections in hospitals and was named as Hospital Associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). Over the past 20–25 years, MRSA was isolated from community settings and thus Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) has emerged. Inside hospitals, MRSA has been isolated from fomites in contact with patients, as well as staff’s protective and personal items. This review highlights the worldwide prevalence of MRSA on fomites within the contexts of hospital and community settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Methicillin resistance
• Staphylococcus aureus
• public fomites
• Hospital Associated
• Community Associated
• review

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the Jordan University of Science and Technology for continuous support and we greatly acknowledge Dr. Ben Davis Tall from the Virulence Mechanisms Branch, US FDA, (Maryland, USA) for reviewing the manuscript. Thanks are also extended to Aseel Ziad Jaradat who is majoring in English, for reviewing the final version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.