Abstract

The surveillance study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Dutch hospitals was started in 1989. During the 6 years period no clear changes in numbers of MRSA were observed (mean 200/year). The incidence of MRSA in Dutch hospitals is still low (< 1%). Several times a spread of MRSA occurred within a hospital but in most cases the epidemic was limited to only a few persons. In 1992 - 1994 about 30% of the MRSA was isolated from patients who had been admitted from foreign hospitals ; 20% of all MRSA-isolates were related to one of these "imported" MRSA and from 40% of the MRSA no foreign source could be detected. Phage typing is a powerful tool for typing MRSA. Most of the strains (96%) were typable ; 45% belonged to one of the 5 epidemic types found in the Netherlands. During the last 6 years no clear changes in antibiotic resistance was found. Most of the isolates were multi resistant ; 80% was sensitive to cotrimoxazole. There was an increase of resistance against fusidic acid (0% in 1989 ; 11% in 1994) and 8% of the isolates showed a decreased susceptibility to mupirocin.