An Outbreak in an Intensive Care Unit of a Strain of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Sequence Type 239 Associated with an Increased Rate of Vascular Access Device--Related Bacteremia

Abstract

To our knowledge, this is the first report to provide direct evidence that strains of MRSA can differ in their ability to cause bacteremia. Further genetic and in vitro analysis of the TW strain may provide insight into the mechanism of vascular access device-related bacteremia in the intensive care unit environment.