Coming to a practice near you? Community-acquired meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).

UNLABELLED: Hospital-acquired meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) arose in the 1960s, but the last decade saw the emergence of a new entity: community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA). Unlike HA-MRSA, patients affected by CA-MRSA have no obvious risk factors and may present with recurrent skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) or, rarely, severe necrotizing pneumonia. This article provides an overview of CA-MRSA and reinforces the standard infection control procedures required to prevent further spread. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The dental team require an awareness of emerging infections, their relevance to dentistry and the infection control procedures necessary to prevent transmission.