International Journal of Current Research and Review,PP No:1-10,ISSN:0975-5241

Methicillin resistant S.aureus (MRSA) has emerged as an important pathogen first in hospitals and then in the community. Community - acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) has recently emerged as a significant pathogen, mainly causing skin and soft tissue infections in immunocompetent individuals residing in the community. It may also cause serious infections such as pneumonia. Person to person spread of CA-MRSAoccurs mainly due to overcrowding, skin to skin contact, compromised skin integrity, sharingcontaminated materials and poor hygiene. Possession of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV (SCCmec IV) encoding for mecA gene, susceptibility to non β-lactam antibiotics and a pvl gene encoding Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) primarily distinguish CA-MRSA from healthcare-associated MRSA. In addition to PVL, CA-MRSA produces many other virulence factors which play important role in its pathogenicity.