MRSA Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about MRSA, including details on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, hospitals, infection, antibiotic resistance, superbugs.

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections: an emerging threat in Spain.

Manzur A, Dominguez AM, Pujol M, González MP, Limon E, Hornero A, Martín R, Gudiol F, Ariza J

Infectious Diseases Service, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L'Hospitalet Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. admanzur@yahoo.com.ar

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has not been recognised previously as a cause of MRSA infections in Spain. Nineteen patients carrying Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive MRSA were identified in a Barcelona hospital, of whom 15 were immigrants, mostly from South America. Twelve developed skin and soft-tissue infections. The associated isolates carried the PVL gene and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCC)mecIV. A dominant clone belonging to sequence type (ST)8 and related to the USA300 clone was identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. This clone is emerging in Spain, primarily among immigrants from South America, but dissemination to the native Spanish population could increase.

Published 6 March 2008 in Clin Microbiol Infect, 14(4): 377-80.
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