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Nature Reviews Microbiology 2, 251–258 (1 March 2004) | doi:10.1038/nrmicro845

Confronting bacterial resistance in healthcare settings: a crucial role for microbiologists

John E. McGowan & Fred C. Tenover

Bacteria that are resistant to antimicrobial agents, which were previously isolated primarily in acute-care hospitals, now cause infection in a wide range of other healthcare settings. Improved detection of new resistant strains — especially by using practical and affordable screening methods and by evaluating mechanisms of resistance — is a priority for tackling this problem effectively. Standardized, effective surveillance systems for evaluating the emergence and prevalence of resistant strains are necessary to assess the success of intervention strategies.