Clinical aspects of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 strain, generally regarded as community-acquired, in Japan.

The characteristics of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection in Japan have not yet been completely established compared with those in Europe and the United States. CA-MRSA infections with the USA300 clone are very rare in Japan. In this study, we describe 4 cases of CA-MRSA infections, particularly the USA300 clone. Case 1 involved a 21-year-old man without any remarkable medical history or risk factors of CA-MRSA who suffered from a rapidly progressive infection in his left arm. Case 2 involved a 34-year-old man and Case 3 a 22-year-old man who presented with recurrent and refractory furuncles. Both men were members of a combat sports gym where other members also had skin infections. Case 4 involved a 60-year-old man with lumbar canal stenosis who suffered from surgical site infection 7 days after lumbar laminectomy and posterolateral fusion. Only 5 cases of USA300 infections were reported in Japan from 2007 to 2009, and 4 cases were detected at Tokyo Medical University Hospital from 2010 to 2011. The diversity of the routes of infection in these cases may indicate the possible spread of the USA300 clone in Japan.