Fusidic acid resistance in Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage strains in nine European countries.

AIM To evaluate fusidic acid resistance pheno- and geno-typically in nasal carriage Staphylococcus aureus isolated from general practice patients in nine European countries. MATERIALS & METHODS Phenotypic fusidic acid resistance was determined by disc diffusion and MIC values, and genotypically by a PCR detecting fusA-E genes. The main analysis was performed on methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains, because methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were scarce. RESULTS Overall S. aureus fusidic acid resistance was low (<10%). fusC was the predominant mechanism of resistance and associations were found between resistance genes and specific spa types. CONCLUSION S. aureus strains showed low resistance to fusidic acid, making this antibiotic an appropriate choice in the treatment of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus skin infections in general practice patients in the nine participating European countries.