MRSA Isolates from Patients with Persistent Bacteremia Generate Nonstable Small Colony Variants within Macrophages and Endothelial Cells during Prolonged Vancomycin Exposure.

Staphylococcus aureus (especially methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA]) is frequently associated with persistent bacteremia (PB) during vancomycin therapy despite consistent susceptibility . Strategic comparisons of PB strains versus those from vancomycin-resolving bacteremia (RB) would yield important mechanistic insights into PB outcomes.