Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Epidemiology and potential virulence factors

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been isolated from patients in the community. Some of these strains may have origins in the hospital, but others appear to be novel and unrelated to known hospital strains. Community MRSA strains have several distinguishing characteristics that may enable them to more readily colonize and infect otherwise healthy individuals. This article reviews recent publications addressing the epidemiology of MRSA in the community, risk factors associated with carriage, potentially associated virulence factors, and concepts of strain fitness as they pertain to MRSA. MRSA likely will be an increasingly important pathogen in the community.