Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant, Community-Associated, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clone USA300 in Men Who Have Sex with Men

Abstract

Infection with multidrug-resistant USA300 MRSA is common among men who have sex with men, and multidrug-resistant MRSA infection might be sexually transmitted in this population. Further research is needed to determine whether existing efforts to control epidemics of other sexually transmitted infections can control spread of community-associated, multidrug-resistant MRSA.

Epidemiologic Similarities in Pediatric Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus in the San Francisco Bay Area

“…Of the exposures to potentially infected or colonized persons, only having a household contact who had surgery in the past year was associated with CA-MSSA. Others have implicated sexual contact as a possible risk factor for CA-MRSA infections of the groin and buttock [11]. While only two of our pediatric subjects had a history of sexual activity, CA-MRSA was significantly associated with abscess or cellulitis in the buttock and groin areas.…”

“…Among adults, CA-MRSA has been associated with risk factors including injection drug use [6], homelessness [7], incarceration, and visiting bars and raves [8]. Outbreaks have also occurred among athletes [9], military recruits [10], and men who have sex with men [11].…”

The role of virulence determinants in community-associated MRSA pathogenesis

“…The exceptional success of CA-MRSA strains in the community is likely due to enhanced virulence and colonization. In addition to an enhanced capacity for nasal carriage [11], CA-MRSA strains are also commonly carried on the skin, thereby facilitating skin-to-skin spread and even sexual transmission [71][72][73][74][75]. Using isogenic mutant strains in CA-MRSA, 3 factors have a proven impact on CA-MRSA pathogenesis, as determined in animal models.…”

Association of Virulence Factor (Panton–valentine Leukocidin) With Meca Gene in Staphylococcus Aureus Isolates in Tertiary Care Hospital

“…This problem is further confounded by the recent spread of CA-MRSA and the identification of vancomycin-resistant MRSA. In addition to the limited treatment options, S. aureus strains acquire and express numerous virulence determinants that continue to increase its ability to cause a wide spectrum of human disease [5,6].…”