title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a community health threat.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one of the most common causes of infections, has been traditionally recognized as a nosocomial pathogen. However, in recent years, its epidemiology has radically changed, being now observed even more frequently in the community, and accounting for > 50% of staphylococcal infections in the US outpatient setting. Community-acquired (CA)-MRSA strains typically cause infections among otherwise healthy individuals, with risk factors differing from those of nosocomial MRSA. The clinical manifestations may range from a furuncle to life-threatening infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis and pneumonia. The antibiotic treatment of these infections may also differ because CA-MRSA strains often retain susceptibility to antimicrobials other than glycopeptides and newer agents. Moreover, the production of toxins, such as the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), should influence the antibiotic choice because in these cases the use of a combination therapy with antimicrobial agents able to decrease toxin production is suggested. There are still many unanswered key questions regarding the epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of CA-MRSA infections. This article reviews current knowledge of CA-MRSA.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Infectious Diseases Division, National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani, Rome, Italy. adriana.cataldo@inmi.it
authors.forename: Maria Adriana
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cataldo
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Taglietti
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents