Elsevier, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 3(13), p. 325-327, 2007
DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01632.x
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In total, 269 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 434 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates were investigated to determine their macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS(B)) resistance phenotypes and genotypes. The constitutive phenotype (61.3% in MRSA, 1.3% in MSSA) and erm(A) gene predominated among the 261 erythromycin-resistant MRSA isolates, while the inducible phenotype (38.7% in MRSA, 94.0% in MSSA) and erm(C) gene were more prevalent among the 150 erythromycin-resistant MSSA isolates. There was a higher incidence of the MLS(B) inducible phenotype compared with other countries, perhaps because MLS(B) antibiotics are not recommended as first-line agents against S. aureus in Japan.