title: Community-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is endemic in hospitals worldwide, and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Health-care-associated MRSA infections arise in individuals with predisposing risk factors, such as surgery or presence of an indwelling medical device. By contrast, many community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections arise in otherwise healthy individuals who do not have such risk factors. Additionally, CA-MRSA infections are epidemic in some countries. These features suggest that CA-MRSA strains are more virulent and transmissible than are traditional hospital-associated MRSA strains. The restricted treatment options for CA-MRSA infections compound the effect of enhanced virulence and transmission. Although progress has been made towards understanding emergence of CA-MRSA, virulence, and treatment of infections, our knowledge remains incomplete. Here we review the most up-to-date knowledge and provide a perspective for the future prophylaxis or new treatments for CA-MRSA infections.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT 59840, USA. fdeleo@niaid.nih.gov
authors.forename: Frank R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: DeLeo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Barry N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Kreiswirth
authors.forename: Henry F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chambers
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin