Published in:
01-02-2011 | Letter to the Editor
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus-aureus-associated glomerulonephritis on the decline: decreased incidence since the 1990s
Authors:
Joichi Usui, Masaki Kobayashi, Itaru Ebihara, Akio Koyama, Kunihiro Yamagata
Published in:
Clinical and Experimental Nephrology
|
Issue 1/2011
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Abstract
We believe that bacterial-infection-associated glomerulonephritis (GN), so-called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-GN, was exterminated in Japan. The control of bacterial infection is the most important part of infection-associated GN. In 1990s Japan, hospital-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) caused MRSA-GN outbreaks. On the other hand, MRSA-GN incidence has been quite limited since 2000. This epidemiological transition suggests that antibacterial therapies and health programs for HA-MRSA infection in Japan were effective against MRSA-GN. Moreover, it appears that staphylococcal superantigens act in the pathogenesis of GN. The change of superantigen production might have influenced to the disappearance of MRSA-GN. If HA-MRSA-producing superantigen outbreaks occur in developing countries, our experience in Japan can provide guiding principles for preventing and eradicating GN.