[SCAN] Community-associated methicillin-resistant _Staphylococcus aureus_ (CA-MRSA) in Portugal: origin, epidemiology and virulence
Ana Tavares, Molecular Genetics Lab, ITQB
| When |
21 Jan, 2015
from
12:00 pm to 01:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Where | Auditorium |
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Scan Seminar
Title: Community-associated methicillin-resistant _Staphylococcus aureus_(CA-MRSA) in Portugal: origin, epidemiology and virulence
Speaker: Ana Tavares
From: Molecular Genetics Lab, ITQB
Abstract:
Methicillin-resistant _Staphylococcus aureus_ (MRSA), one of the most relevant human-associated pathogens, has been traditionally confined to hospitals (HA-MRSA) for over 30 years. However, in the last two decades MRSA has emerged worldwide as a leading cause of severe infection in healthy individuals in the community (CA-MRSA). CA-MRSA were previously described to be different from their health-care associated counterparts, having distinctive genetic backgrounds and a high virulence potential.
The study of nosocomial MRSA in Portugal over two decades has shown that Portugal is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of MRSA in Europe. However, in spite of its clinical relevance the frequency, population structure and features of MRSA in the healthy community in Portugal were unknown.
Our most recent studies showed that CA-MRSA with high pathogenic potential are present in the community in Portugal. Our data indicate that MRSA in the community result mainly from dissemination of HA-MRSA from the hospital environment, probably as a result of the extremely high prevalences in this setting. These results call the attention for an eminent public health concern.
