Bacterium

Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Isolates of the Staphylococcus aureus that are resistant to the antibiotic VANCOMYCIN. The S. aureus becomes resistant by acquiring plasmids carrying genes for VANCOMYCIN RESISTANCE. Vancomycin‐intermediate S. aureus has low-level vancomycin resistance requiring an intermediate concentration of vancomycin between sensitive and resistant isolates. These S. aureus with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin and related GLYCOPEPTIDE antibiotics are often seen in HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS.