Characterization of Staphylococcus aureus mutants expressing reduced susceptibility to common house-cleaners.

Spontaneous mutants of Staph aureus demonstrating reduced susceptibility to one of four house-cleaner formulations were selected and their susceptibility to a range of house-cleaners and their components together with hydrogen peroxide was determined by measuring minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations. The mutants demonstrated altered susceptibility to multiple antimicrobials. The authors speculate, however, that the reduced susceptibility probably does not pose any threat to efficacy under conditions where products are used at much higher concentrations. Of 76 clinical MRSA, 20 exhibited reduced susceptibility to a house-cleaner. Journal of Applied Microbiology 2005;98:364-72.