The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 20, Issue 3 325-333, Copyright © 1985 by Society for General Microbiology
Unusual properties of Staphylococcus aureus strains of the new epidemic phage type 95
V. T. Rosdahl and K. Rosendal
Three hundred and seventy-one penicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
strains of phage type 95 isolated in the years 1977-1983 were investigated.
They had characteristic resistance patterns to cadmium (Cd), arsenate (As)
and mercury (Hg). Most were susceptible to all three heavy metals; 25
strains were resistant to As only and one to Cd and As. The susceptible
strains had a uniform medium level of penicillinase production, whereas the
As-resistant strains produced large amounts of penicillinase. In most of
the strains, penicillin resistance was located on a very unstable
penicillinase plasmid. The combination of rare properties found in Danish
type-95 strains seems to point to the spread of one or two clones.
Co-reactions with other phage groups or complexes and results of
lysogenisation experiments suggest that the Danish type-95 strains are
derived from strains of the 52, 52A, 80, 81 complex.
