USA300 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Norway.

Moen AEF*, Tannaes TM, Leegaard TM. USA300 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Norway. Community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus USA300 is known for its ability to disseminate and colonize and the clone has been detected globally. We studied the most populated area in Norway in search for the strain and for signs of endemic establishment. Strain typing techniques such as spa-, SCCmec- and dru-typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and detection of USA300 molecular markers, lukS/F-PV and arcA, were performed. USA300 has been present in the study area since 2003 and has increased in incidence in parallel with the total MRSA incidence. Most USA300 isolates were found in the community, but isolates were also detected in health care institutions.