Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in combat support hospitals in three regions of Iraq

Epidemiol Infect. 2011 Jul;139(7):994-7. doi: 10.1017/S0950268810001950. Epub 2010 Aug 23.

Abstract

SUMMARYStaphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of infections in deployed service members. Based on a molecular epidemiological study of 182 MRSA isolates from patients in three U.S. Army combat support hospitals in separate regions in Iraq, USA300 clone was the most predominant (80%) pulsotype. This finding suggested that strain carriage from the home country by military personnel is epidemiologically more important than local acquisition.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Genotype
  • Hospitals, Military / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Iraq / epidemiology
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* / genetics
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology