title: Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA): an emerging pathogen in infective endocarditis.
abstract: Over the last decade, a novel methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has emerged, primarily associated with healthy individuals within the community. This organism is distinct from healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) in terms of epidemiology, microbiology and clinical manifestation and as such has been defined as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA). Given that S. aureus is a major aetiological agent of infective endocarditis (IE), particularly associated with the iv drug user population, reports of IE attributed to CA-MRSA are now emerging in the literature. The aims of this article are to (i) define and contrast CA-MRSA with HA-MRSA; (ii) review the published cases of CA-MRSA IE to date; and (iii) evaluate the current international recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment regimens for IE in relation to CA-MRSA.
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AD, Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: B Cherie
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Millar
authors.forename: Bernard D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Prendergast
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents