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Abstract
The susceptibility to magnesium ion of 38 epidemiologically distinct strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was investigated. Eighty-seven per cent were inhibited by 0.2m Mg++. None of 29 naturally-occurring methicillin-sensitive strains were inhibited by less than 0.3m Mg ++. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains were not especially susceptible to calcium ions. Neither a biochemical association nor genetic linkage was demonstrated between susceptibility to magnesium ion and resistance to methicillin. Susceptibility to magnesium ion, production of enterotoxin B, and inability to split Tween 80 were three unusual characteristics biochemically unrelated to methicillin resistance which were concomintantly present in 63% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus.
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