Heterosexual transmission of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Heterosexual transmission of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has not been documented. As part of a survey conducted in northern Manhattan, we encountered 3 households in which heterosexual transmission was responsible for new community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus infection. The vaginal and inguinal isolates obtained from the sexual partners were USA 300. This report documents an important and previously unrecognized means of community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus colonization and transmission for these potentially invasive strains.