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. 2025 Jul;30(28):2500452.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2025.30.28.2500452.

Spread of the FAR-MRSA clone, a fusidic acid- and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST121, Europe, 2014 to 2024

Louise Roer  1 , Nicolas Yin  2 , Olivier Denis  2 , Karuna Ew Vendrik  3 , Romy D Zwittink  3 , Daan W Notermans  3 , Monique Perrin  4 , Kirstin Khonyongwa  4 , Anne Tristan  5 , Benjamin Youenou  5 , Franziska Layer-Nicolaou  6 , Guido Werner  6 , Hege Enger  7 , Emily Charlotte Henry Eikrem  7 , Jessica Darenberg  8 , Barbro Mäkitalo  8 , Magnus Paulsson  9 , Jonas Björkman  10 , Hong Fang  11 , Erika Tång Hallbäck  12 , Martin Sundqvist  13 , Laura Lindholm  14 , Kartyk Moganeradj  15 , Silvia García-Cobos  16 , Javier E Cañada-García  16 , Barbara Juliane Holzknecht  17   18   1 , Helle Brander Eriksen  18 , Morten Hoppe  18 , Mette Damkjær Bartels  19   17 , Jose Alfredo Samaniego Castruita  19 , Tinna Ravnholt Urth  1 , Anders Rhod Larsen  20   1 , Andreas Petersen  20   1
Affiliations

Spread of the FAR-MRSA clone, a fusidic acid- and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST121, Europe, 2014 to 2024

Louise Roer et al. Euro Surveill. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

We describe the genetic characteristics of a fusidic acid- and meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone widespread in Europe, based on whole genome sequences from 317 isolates. The clone is causing impetigo and other skin and soft tissue infections, primarily in young children. Comparison with publicly available S. aureus ST121 sequences showed that the clone is clearly distinct from previously described ST121 clones. European and other international readers should be aware of the emergence of this community-acquired MRSA clone.

Keywords: Methicillin-resistance; Staphylococcus aureus; fusidic acid resistance; impetigo; international clone; multi-resistance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Phylogenetic tree of seven genes, colour-coded by country.
Figure 1
Single nucleotide polymorphism phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus ST121, sequences from European reference laboratories and the NBCI database, 1932–2024 (n = 1,188)
Column graph showing case numbers by age group, colour-coded for samples from infections vs screening; the larger part of samples were from infections
Figure 2
Age distribution of cases with FAR-MRSA, divided into infections and non-infections (screening samples), 11 European countries, 2014–2024 (n = 315)
Column graph showing case numbers by country, with the highest numbers in the Netherlands, Denmark and then France
Figure 3
Number of isolates belonging to the FAR-MRSA clone, by country of isolation, 11 European countries, 2014–2024 (n = 317)
Columns graph showing case numbers rising from July and falling after October
Figure 4
Number of isolates per month for all cases with available date of isolation, irrespective of year and country, 11 European countries, 2014–2024 (n = 314)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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