An outbreak of new, nonmultidrug-resistant, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain (SCCmec type IIIA variant-1) in the neonatal intensive care unit transmitted by a staff member

A methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain was recovered in a neonatal intensive care unit from 3 blood and 3 sputum specimens with antibiotic susceptibility profile characteristic of community-acquired MRSA. Epidemiologic survey resulted in isolation of an identical strain from the nares of one nurse. All isolates carried a new SCCmec type IIIA variant. Treatment of the nurse with topical mupirocin resulted in cessation of the outbreak.