Community-acquired MRSA bacteraemia: four additional cases including one associated with severe pneumonia

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