Prevalence of pSCFS7-like vectors among cfr-positive staphylococcal population in Spain

Abstract

As a consequence of the dissemination of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains and the accumulation of several resistant traits, only a few antibiotics such as vancomycin or linezolid are considered as the last resort antibiotics for the treatment of these strains. The finding of a transferable chloramphenicol/florphenicol resistance (cfr) gene, related to linezolid resistance, has compromised the usage of this antimicrobial in the clinical practice. Although the prevalence of MRSA strains showing resistance to linezolid is still low, hospital outbreaks due to cfr-positive MRSA strains have been documented in Spain [1].