Impact of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the hospital setting.

Abstract

The epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is undergoing a transformation as isolates of this historically health care-associated pathogen are reported with increasing frequency in otherwise healthy community-dwelling individuals. This article provides a brief review of the differences between health care-associated and community-acquired MRSA and discusses the potential impact of the changing epidemiology of MRSA on the hospital setting.