Correlation of acquisition with SCCmec type
As indicated above, isolates were distributed by
acquisition (community ⁄ nosocomial) using only
the scarce epidemiological data provided by the
participating institutions. Of the 134 MRSA isolates,
127 were nosocomial and seven were classified
as community-acquired (i.e., isolated from
patients within 48 h of admission). All MRSA
isolates with SCCmecI (29 isolates) and SCCmecIII
(one isolate) were nosocomial. Eight (88.9%)
isolates with SCCmecII were nosocomial, and
acquisition was predominantly nosocomial for
isolates with SCCmecIV (95.8%) or SCCmecIVA
(97.1%). Only three isolates with SCCmecIV or
SCCmecIVA were acquired in the community