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

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 139; no. 7; pp. 994 - 997
• Main Authors: HUANG, X.-Z., CASH, D. M., CHAHINE, M. A., VAN HORN, G. T., ERWIN, D. P., McKAY, J. T., HAMILTON, L. R., JERKE, K. H., CO, E.-M. A., ALDOUS, W. K., LESHO, E. P., LINDLER, L. E., BOWDEN, R. A., NIKOLICH, M. P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cloning; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genotype; Hospitals, Military - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Iraq - epidemiology; Iraq War, 2003-2011; M.R.S.A; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Molecular Epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Staphylococcus infections; Asia; Middle east; Iraq; CA-MRSA; infection; Iraq; Nosocomial infection; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Micrococcaceae; Epidemiology; Staphylococcus aureus
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268810001950

Staphylococcus 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.