Witte W, Cuny C, Braulke C, Heuck D, Klare I (1997): Widespread dissemination of epidemic MRSA in German hospitals
Eurosurveillance 2 (4): 25-28.

This report describes the spread of epidemic methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (EMRSA) in Germany identified by genomic typing. The rate of isolation of MRSA increased in Germany during 1990-95 and EMRSA was observed to spread from region to region. Nearly all MRSA infections were acquired in hospital and mainly affected patients in intensive care units, causing different types of infection, including pneumonia, septicaemia and osteomyelitis. However, the proportion of staphylococci resistant to methicillin (8.7%) is still relatively low in Germany compared with southern Europe.