The prevalence of MRSA colonization at the time of patient admission was high (>7%). Limiting surveillance cultures to patients with >or=1 of the identified risk factors may allow for targeted screening. The emergence of CA-MRSA colonization represents a new, unrecognized reservoir of MRSA within hospitals, potentially increasing the risk for horizontal transmission.

No abstract

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus clones have emerged as a major cause of methicillin-resistant S aureus colonization in high-risk newborns. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S aureus recovery was associated with acquisition during birth, whereas health care-associated methicillin-resistant S aureus clones seemed to be transmitted nosocomially.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has traditionally been a nosocomial pathogen. However, several recent studies have noted community-acquired MRSA among young, healthy patients with no risk factors or healthcare system exposure. We report the transmission of a strain of community-acquired MRSA in our neonatal intensive care unit.