Is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus an emerging community pathogen?
OBJECTIVES: To discuss the historical epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and review the literature suggesting that MRSA has become a community pathogen. DATA SOURCES: A search of the MEDLINE database was performed, encompassing all English or French language citations from 1966 to 1999 and containing the subjects and/or text words: ‘Staphylococcus aureus’, ‘methicillin resistance’, ‘endocarditis’, ‘cellulites’, ‘pneumonia’ and ‘community-acquired’. Articles published in other languages that provided English or French abstracts were included. All relevant references cited in articles obtained from the MEDLINE database and book chapters were also included. DATA EXTRACTION: All articles obtained from the above sources were examined and were included in the review if a laboratory or epidemiological study of community-acquired MRSA was presented. DATA SYNTHESIS AND CONCLUSIONS: MRSA has emerged over the past 30 years to become a worldwide nosocomial pathogen
