High Rates of Staphylococcus aureus USA400 Infection, Northern Canada

Abstract

Surveillance of Staphylococcus aureus infections in 3 northern remote communities of Saskatchewan was undertaken. Rates of methicillin-resistant infections were extremely high (146–482/10,000 population), and most (98.2%) were caused by USA400 strains. Although USA400 prevalence has diminished in the United States, this strain is continuing to predominate throughout many northern communities in Canada.

Keywords

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
• staphylococci
• MSSA
• MRSA
• community
• Canada