S. aureus USA400 Infections, Canada | CDC EID

EID Journal Home > Volume 17, Number 4–April 2011

Volume 17, Number 4–April 2011
Dispatch
High Rates of Staphylococcus aureus USA400 Infection, Northern Canada
George R. Golding, Paul N. Levett, Ryan R. McDonald, James Irvine, Brian Quinn, Mandiangu Nsungu, Shirley Woods, Mohammad Khan, Marianna Ofner-Agostini, Michael R. Mulvey, and the Northern Antibiotic Resistance Partnership1

Author affiliations: National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada (G.R. Golding, M.R. Mulvey); Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada (P.N. Levett, R.R. McDonald); Population Health Unit, LaRonge, Saskatchewan (J. Irvine, B. Quinn); Northern Intertribal Health Authority, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (M. Nsungu, S. Woods), Kelsey Trail Health Region, Melfort, Saskatchewan (M. Khan); Public Health Agency Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (M. Ofner-Agostini); and University


Suggested citation for this article

Abstract
Surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus infections in 3 northern remote communities of Saskatchewan was undertaken. Rates of methicillin-resistant infections were extremely high (146–482/10,000 population), and most (98.2%) were caused by USA400 strains. Although USA400 prevalence has diminished in the United States, this strain is continuing to predominate throughout many northern communities in Canada.

Over the past decade, community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections have rapidly emerged in Canada (1). These CA-MRSA strains are causing infections in often young otherwise healthy persons with no traditional health care–associated risk factors (2), linked with increased illness severity and deaths (3), and now entering and being disseminated within health care facilities (4). In comparison to the incidence of CA-MRSA infections in large urban centers across Canada, which has been addressed through the ongoing efforts of the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (1), little attention has been directed at the emerging problem of CA-MRSA or CA-methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) in rural and northern communities of Canada. In this study, active surveillance was undertaken in 3 remote northern communities to assess the prevalence and effects of MRSA and MSSA infections.

full-text:
S. aureus USA400 Infections, Canada | CDC EID


Suggested Citation for this Article
Golding GR, Levett PN, McDonald RR, Irvine J, Quinn B, Nsungu M et al.; Northern Antibiotic Resistance Partnership. High rates of Staphylococcus aureus USA400 infection, northern Canada. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2011 Apr [date cited]. http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/17/4/722.htm


DOI: 10.3201/eid1704.100482



1The following are members of the Northern Antibiotic Resistance Partnership: Michael Mulvey, George Golding (National Microbiology Laboratory, Winnipeg, Manitoba); Greg Horsman, Paul N. Levett, Ryan McDonald, Evelyn Nagle, Christine Schachtel, Christina Schwickrath, Arlene Obarianyk, Toni Hansen (Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory, Regina, Saskatchewan [SK]); Donna Stockdale, James Irvine, Brian Quinn (Population Health Unit, LaRonge, SK); Brenda Mishak-Beckman (Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region and Athabasca Health Authority, LaRonge); Jill Johnson (Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region, LaRonge); Mandiangu Nsungu, Shirley Woods (Northern Intertribal Health Authority, Prince Albert, SK); Mohammad Khan (Kelsey Trail Health Region, Melfort, SK); Pat Malmgren (Keewatin Yatthé Health Region (Buffalo Narrows, SK); Brenda Cholin (Prairie North Health Region, North Battleford, SK); Zachary Whitecap, Barb Brooke, Matilda McKay (Red Earth First Nation, SK); Ruth Bear, Georgina Quinney, Annel Bear (Shoal Lake Cree Nation, SK); Shirley Paton, Marianna Ofner-Agostini (Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario); Brian Szclarzuk, Steve Silcox (Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg); John Embil, Kirsten Bergstrom, Amanda Horbal, Christine Siemens, Nadia Persaud (University of Manitoba, Winnipeg).


Comments to the Authors
Please use the form below to submit correspondence to the authors or contact them at the following address:

Michael R. Mulvey, National Microbiology Laboratory, 1015 Arlington St, Winnipeg, MB R3E 3R2, Canada; email: michael_mulvey@phac-aspc.gc.ca