The environment as a factor in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission.

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a leading cause of infectious disease morbidity and mortality in the United States. The epidemiology of the organism has changed, with novel strains emerging in the community among individuals lacking any healthcare contact. Although direct human-to-human transmission via skin contact is one way for this organism to spread, transmission via environmental contamination of fomites or through air are other potential ways that the organism can be acquired. As such, an improved understanding of MRSA transmission is needed to implement maximally effective control and prevention interventions. We review the research documenting the role of the environment in MRSA spread.