Proposed definitions of community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).
A new type of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is emerging as a significant pathogen in otherwise healthy individuals in the community. This MRSA is distinct from healthcare-associated (HA)-MRSA, in terms of epidemiology, microbiology and clinical manifestations. A considerable number of reports are beginning to appear describing the organism and associated infections in the literature. However, within these reports, there is a lack of consensus as to the terminology used to describe community-associated (CA)-MRSA. This confusion is further compounded with the recent emergence of nosocomial transmission of CA-MRSA within hospitals. The aim of this article is to highlight the differences between HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA and to propose standard definitions of the various subgroups of CA-MRSA.
Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast, UK.
B C
BC
Millar
A
A
Loughrey
J S
JS
Elborn
J E
JE
Moore
D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*