title: Major West Indies MRSA clones in human beings: do they travel with their hosts?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Descriptions of the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have seldom been produced in the Caribbean, which is a major tourism destination.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using DNA microarrays and spa typing, we characterized 85 MRSA isolates from human skin and soft-tissue infections from five different islands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the French West Indies (n = 72), the most frequently isolated clones were the same clones that are specifically isolated from mainland France [Lyon (n = 35) and Geraldine (n = 11) clones], whereas the clones that were most frequently isolated from the other islands (n = 13) corresponded with clones that have a worldwide endemic spread [Vienna/Hungarian/Brazilian (n = 5), Panton Valentine leukocidin-positive USA300 (n = 4), New York/Japan (n = 2), and pediatric (n = 1) clones].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The distribution of the major MRSA clones in the French (Guadeloupe and Martinique) and non-French West Indies (Jamaica, Trinidad, and Tobago) is different, and the clones most closely resemble those found in the home countries of the travelers who visit the islands most frequently. The distribution might be affected by tourist migration, which is specific to each island.
authors.affiliation: French National Reference Centre for Staphylococci, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France; INSERM U851, Faculté de Médecine Lyon Est, University of Lyon, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chroboczek
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boisset
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Rasigade
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meugnier
authors.forename: Patrick E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Akpaka
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolas
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Olive
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bes
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vandenesch
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laurent
authors.forename: Jerome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tristan
mesh_terms: D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D014195:Travel
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin