Emergence of Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (VRSA)

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the bacteria under the genus Staphylococcus which is a gram-positive coccus. It is microscopically observed as individual organisms, in pairs and in irregular, grapelike clusters. S. aureus is non-motile and non-spore forming bacteria. It is one of the most common community and nosocomial pathogen. It mainly causes skin and soft tissue infections as it is the normal flora on human skin. Discussion: Infections caused by S. aureus are treated with benzylpenicillin, methicillin and others. It is difficult to treat infections caused by S. aureus as it destroys neutrophils and shows high antibiotic resistant. MRSA emerged and causes methicillin to be ineffective against them. Thus, vancomycin becomes the drug of choice to be used. Vancomycin acts by inhibiting the biosynthesis of cell wall of S. aureus. However, some strains of S. aureus developed resistance to vancomycin as well, by increasing the quantities of peptidoglycan and alter the terminal peptide of D-Ala-D-Ala to D-Ala-D-Lac. As a result, hetero-VRSA, VISA and VRSA strains emerged. Conclusion: Emergence of VRSA is due to the reduced susceptibility of S. aureus to vancomycin as S. aureus has developed resistant to vancomycin. Normally, antibiotic combination therapy is used to treat infections caused by VRSA. Hygiene precautions should be taken to avoid the transmission of infections caused by S. aureus.