Bacterial Infections and Mycoses Commons^™

Rapid Emergence Of Co-Colonization With Community-Acquired And Hospital-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Strains In The Hospital Setting, Joanna R. Wares, Erika M.C. D'Agata, Glenn F. Webb

Department of Math & Statistics Faculty Publications

Background: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CAMRSA), a novel strain of MRSA, has recently emerged and rapidly spread in the community. Invasion into the hospital setting with replacement of the hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) has also been documented. Co-colonization with both CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA would have important clinical implications given differences in antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and the potential for exchange of genetic information.

Methods: A deterministic mathematical model was developed to characterize the transmission dynamics of HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA in the hospital setting and to quantify the emergence of co-colonization with both strains Results: The model analysis shows that the …