title: Outbreaks of infection caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Canadian correctional facility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been identified in prison settings in the United States. The present study investigated two clusters of skin and soft tissue infection caused by community-acquired (CA) MRSA in a correctional facility in southern Ontario.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outbreak investigations were conducted by the responsible public health authority. Strain relatedness was assessed through comparison of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antibiograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two distinct outbreaks of CAMRSA-associated disease occurred in 2002 and 2004. Most patients presented with abscesses in the lower extremities. All isolates had identical DNA banding patterns on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. One-half of the affected inmates resided in a cellblock with one other affected inmate. No other risk factors were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One of the first outbreaks of CAMRSA infections in a correctional facility in Canada is documented. Taken in conjunction with outbreaks elsewhere, this suggests that residence in correctional facilities may be a risk factor for CAMRSA infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Main
authors.forename: Padman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jayaratne
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haley
authors.forename: Candy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Smaill
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Fisman