Community strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as potential cause of healthcare-associated infections, Uruguay, 2002-2004.
Community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains have emerged in Uruguay. We reviewed Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a large healthcare facility in Montevideo (center A) and obtained information from 3 additional hospitals on patients infected with CA-MRSA. An infection was defined as healthcare-onset if the culture was obtained >48 hours after hospital admission. At center A, the proportion of S. aureus infections caused by CA-MRSA increased from 4% to 23% over 2 years; the proportion caused by healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) decreased from 25% to 5%. Of 182 patients infected with CA-MRSA, 38 (21%) had healthcare-onset infections. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis determined that 22 (92%) of 24 isolates were USA1100, a community strain. CA-MRSA has emerged in Uruguay and appears to have replaced HA-MRSA strains at 1 healthcare facility. In addition, CA-MRSA appears to cause healthcare-onset infections, a finding that emphasizes the need for infection control measures to prevent transmission within healthcare settings.
Benoit
Stephen R
SR
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. sbenoit@cdc.gov
Estivariz
Concepción
C
Mogdasy
Cristina
C
Pedreira
Walter
W
Galiana
Antonio
A
Galiana
Alvaro
A
Bagnulo
Homero
H
Gorwitz
Rachel
R
Fosheim
Gregory E
GE
McDougal
Linda K
LK
Jernigan
Daniel
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D014583:Uruguay / Q000453:epidemiology