HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Budnick, L D Articles by Schaefler, S Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Budnick, L D Articles by Schaefler, S

Ciprofloxacin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in New York health care facilities, 1988. The New York MRSA Study Group.

L D Budnick and S Schaefler

New York State Department of Health.

The emergence in 1988 of ciprofloxacin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in New York City was studied in nine hospitals and eight nursing homes. Of the 43 hospitalized patients studied, 21 were admitted from home, while nine of the 12 nursing home patients were transferred from a hospital. Twenty-four of the 55 patients had been treated previously with ciprofloxacin, and 26 had an identifiable risk factor for a nosocomial infection. MRSA was a contributing factor in at least five of the 21 deaths. MRSA resistance to ciprofloxacin was detected within three months of the drug's commercial availability, apparently emerged independently at a number of the health care facilities, and has become widespread. If such resistance is found in a health care facility, ciprofloxacin may not be useful as a first line antibiotic.