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Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) strains are a source of some hospital-onset (HO) infections. The USA300 clone, identified by pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), is especially prevalent. African-Americans are known to have increased rates of CA-MRSA colonization and infection. It has been suggested that community factors, such as correctional facilities and illicit drug use, contribute to this. To explore the epidemiologic link between CA colonization and HO infection, researchers used whole genome sequencing (WGS) on 156 HO-MRSA and 256 HO–methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) bacteremia samples. The cases occurred between 2009 and 2013 at a public health hospital and a nearby tertiary care …