Editing Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (section)

{{Short description|Antibiotic resistant bacteria}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{lead too short|date=May 2020}}
{{technical|date=May 2020}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Vancomycin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus''}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
| synonyms        =
| image           = File:Staphylococcus aureus VISA.jpg
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| caption         = [[Scanning electron micrograph]] (SEM) shows a [[strain (biology)|strain]] of ''[[Staphylococcus aureus]]'' bacteria taken from a [[#vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus|vancomycin-intermediate ''Staphylococcus aureus'']] (VISA) culture.
| pronounce       =
| field           = Microbiology
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| risks           =
| diagnosis       = Disk diffusion<ref name=vre/>
| differential    =
| prevention      =
| treatment       = Beta-lactam antibiotic (in combination)<ref name=beta/>
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'''Vancomycin-resistant ''Staphylococcus aureus''''' ('''VRSA''') are strains of ''[[Staphylococcus aureus]]'' that have acquired resistance to the [[glycopeptide antibiotic]] [[vancomycin]].<ref>{{cite web|title = CDC - VISA / VRSA in Healthcare Settings - HAI|url = https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/organisms/visa_vrsa/visa_vrsa.html|website = www.cdc.gov|access-date = 2015-06-11}}</ref> Bacteria can acquire resistance genes either by random mutation or through the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another. Resistance genes interfere with the normal antibiotic function and allow bacteria to grow in the presence of the antibiotic.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cloeckaert |first1=Axel |last2=Zygmunt |first2=Michel S. |last3=Doublet |first3=Benoît |date=2017-12-05 |title=Editorial: Genetics of Acquired Antimicrobial Resistance in Animal and Zoonotic Pathogens |journal=Frontiers in Microbiology |volume=8 |page=2428 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2017.02428 |issn=1664-302X |pmc=5723418 |pmid=29259602 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Resistance in VRSA is conferred by the plasmid-mediated ''vanA'' gene and operon.<ref name=":0" />  Although VRSA infections are uncommon, VRSA is often resistant to other types of antibiotics and a potential threat to public health because treatment options are limited.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cong |first1=Yanguang |last2=Yang |first2=Sijin |last3=Rao |first3=Xiancai |date=January 2020 |title=Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: A review of case updating and clinical features |journal=Journal of Advanced Research |volume=21 |pages=169–176 |doi=10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.005 |issn=2090-1232 |pmc=7015472 |pmid=32071785}}</ref> VRSA is resistant to many of the standard drugs used to treat ''S. aureus'' infections.  Furthermore, resistance can be transferred from one bacterium to another.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=McGuinness |first1=Will A. |last2=Malachowa |first2=Natalia |last3=DeLeo |first3=Frank |title=Vancomycin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus |journal=Yale J Biol Med |date=23 Jun 2017 |volume=90 |issue=2 |pages=269–281 |pmid=28656013 <!--|access-date=2 Jun 2023-->|pmc=5482303 }}</ref>