To the Editor: Collins and colleagues1 reported a case of bacteraemic community-acquired MRSA (CAMRSA) infection that they believed to be the first reported in Australia. One of us (G N) published a reference to a case of septicaemia and osteomyelitis in Brisbane caused by CAMRSA in 2000.2 This severe case occurred in a previously healthy 16-year-old boy with no risk factors for MRSA infection who, after prolonged ventilatory and inotropic support and vancomycin therapy, required a long period of rehabilitation. A further two cases of septicaemia occurred in Ipswich and will soon be published as part of a study of CAMRSA conducted in 2000–2001.3
Correspondence:
- 1. Collins N, Gosbell IB, Wilson SF. Community-acquired MRSA bacteraemia. Med J Aust 2002; 177: 55-56. <eMJA full text>
- 2. Nimmo GR, Schooneveldt J, O'Kane G, et al. Community acquisition of gentamicin-sensitive MRSA in south-east Queensland. J Clin Microbiol 2000; 38: 3926-3931.
- 3. Munckhof WJ, Schooneveldt J, Coombs GW, et al. Emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in Queensland, Australia. Int J Infect Dis 2003. In press.
- 4. Four pediatric deaths from community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — Minnesota and North Dakota, 1997–1999. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 1999; 48: 707-710.
- 5. Dufour P, Gillet Y, Bes M, et al. Community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in France: emergence of a single clone that produces Panton-Valentine leukocidin. Clin Infect Dis 2002; 35: 819-824.
- 6. Jarraud S, Mougel C, Thioulouse J, et al. Relationships between Staphylococcus aureus genetic background, virulence factors, agr groups (alleles), and human disease. Infect Immun 2002; 70: 631-641.
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