J Clin Microbiol. 2002 Nov;40(11):4289-94.

Dissemination of new methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus clones in the community.

Okuma K, Iwakawa K, Turnidge JD, Grubb WB, Bell JM, O'Brien FG, Coombs GW, Pearman JW, Tenover FC, Kapi M, Tiensasitorn C, Ito T, Hiramatsu K.

Department of Bacteriology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.

Multiple methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clones carrying type IV staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec were identified in the community-acquired MRSA strains of both the United States and Australia. They multiplied much faster than health-care-associated MRSA and were resistant to fewer non-beta-lactam antibiotics. They seem to have been derived from more diverse S. aureus populations than health- care-associated MRSA strains.