title: Changing epidemiology of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Asia-Pacific region.
abstract: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has become an important threat to public health in the Asia-Pacific region, which is characterized by a large population and relatively insufficient resources. Better understanding on the current status of CA-MRSA in the region is of paramount importance. Areas covered: This article reviews the published literatures on the prevalence, molecular epidemiology, colonization, and hospital spread of CA-MRSA. Expert commentary: The burden of CA-MRSA has been increasing in the past two decades. The molecular epidemiology of CA-MRSA in the Asia-Pacific region shows a marked diversity in each country. Still, some strains - multilocus sequence type (MLST) ST59, ST30, ST72, ST8, and ST772 - are unique clones that have successfully established themselves as predominant, often spreading into nosocomial settings. More coordinated and comprehensive surveillance to understand the true epidemiology of CA-MRSA in the Asia-Pacific region is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine , Armed Forces Capital Hospital , Seongnam , Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungmin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: b Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Medical Center , Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine , Seoul , Korea.
authors.forename: Doo Ryeon
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D003428:Cross Infection; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Asia; Epidemiology; Oceania; community-acquired infections; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus