Community-acquired MRSA as a pathogen

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA- MRSA) was initially defined as an infection with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in an outpatient, or in a patient that manifested infection within 48 hours of hospital admission (1). However, it is now recognized that CA-MRSA has unique characteristics not related to time of onset or hospitalization that differentiate it from healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). These include genetic profile, epidemiology, presentation, and treatment. Although there is no universally accepted definition, since 2000 the Centers for Disease Control definition of CA-MRSA is an infec- tion with MRSA that lacks risk factors for a MRSA infection (Table 1) (2).