Abstract

The surveillance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureaus (MRSA) in Dutch hospitals was continued in 1991. In this year 211 MRSA-isolates were received from fifty-three hospitals. Phage-pattern and antibiogram were determined for all MRSA-isolates. Sixty-six different phage-types were found. Of these, eleven phage-types were isolated in two or more hospitals. Five MRSA phage-types have been isolated in 1989 as well as in 1990 and 1991. For approximately 60% of the MRSA phage-types the origin was reported in 1991. Nearly half of them were introduced from foreign hospitals. Some MRSA phage-types originate from several countries. MRSA-isolates are usually multi-resistant. Resistance percentages in 1991 are more or less similar to those in 1989 and 1990. Although, still infrequent the occurrence of fusidic acid resistant strains should be notified. Decreased susceptibility to mupirocin was incidentally found.