The baseline time span for this database is 1997-October 31, 2007 (fifth
bimonthly period in 2007). The resulting database contained 6,095 (10
years) and 2,451 (2 years) papers; 18,673 authors; 109 countries; 914
journals; and 4,580 institutions.
Interview Menu - Interviews,
first-person essays, and profiles about people in a
wide variety of fields which pertain to this
special topic of Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
OVERVIEW
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a topic of
increasing concern in the realm of healthcare. MRSA was one of the first
bacteria to develop resistance to drugs. S. aureus is actually
present in abundance in the human body, but when introduced to an
immunocompromised patient, it can be very severe. Because of this, MRSA can
be particularly alarming in hospital and healthcare settings, resulting in
longer hospital stays, more expensive, less effective, and possibly more
toxic treatments, and even death. According to the Centers for Disease
Control, in 1974 MRSA accounted for 2% of staph infections; by 1995 that
number had increased to 22%, and in 2004, it was a whopping 63%.
This month, Special Topics looks at the progress of research on MRSA over
the past decade and over the past two years. Highlights of the field over
the past decade include genome sequencing, the association of MRSA with
Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene markers, epidemiological studies in
various settings and communities, studies on compliance with hygiene in
hospitals, guidelines for management, virulence determinants, case reports,
and a meta-analysis of mortality rates. The gravity of MRSA's resistance
becomes ever more clear with papers showing further resistance to other
drugs, including vancomycin, and, in one instance, linezolid.
Over the past two years, the research aspects are similar to those from the
past decade, but with a more specific focus. Genome sequencing studies now
include the complete genome sequence of the epidemic USA 300 MRSA clone.
Epidemiology studies, particularly of skin and soft tissue infections in
emergent care settings, are also narrowed to specific MRSA clones, and the
USA 300 clone plays a prominent role. Clinical trials include studies of
community-acquired MRSA in children, necrotizing fasciitis resulting from
community-acquired MRSA, staph-induced endocarditis, MRSA abscesses in
players and employees of the St. Louis Rams football team, and the SOAP
trial of sepsis in European ICU's. One trial compared linezolid and
vancomycin for the treatment of MRSA infections, whereas another showed
strains of MRSA that are now resistant to vancomycin. An experimental study
using the new drug platensimycin is also reported.
Methodology: To construct this database, papers were
extracted based on title- and author-supplied keywords for
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The keywords used were
as follows:
("methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus" OR
"methicillin resistant S aureus" OR "MRSA" OR "methicillin resist*")
The baseline time span for this database is 1997-October 31, 2007 (fifth
bimonthly period in 2007). The resulting database contained 6,095 (10
years) and 2,451 (2 years) papers; 18,673 authors; 109 countries; 914
journals; and 4,580 institutions.
Rankings: Once the database was in place, it was used to
generate the lists of top 20 papers (two- and ten-year periods), authors,
journals, institutions, and nations, covering a time span of 1997-October
31, 2007 (fifth bimonthly, a 10-year plus 10-month period).
The top 20 papers are ranked according to total cites. Rankings for author,
journal, institution, and country are listed in three ways: according to
total cites, total papers, and total cites/paper. The paper thresholds and
corresponding percentages used to determine scientist, institution,
country, and journal rankings according to total cites/paper, and total
papers respectively are as follows:
