USA300, A strain of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, crossing Belgium's borders: outbreak of skin and soft tissue infections in a hospital in Belgium.

OBJECTIVE: to investigate an outbreak of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) USA300 in a hospital setting, and the effect of infection control measures.

DESIGN: outbreak investigation and retrospective chart review.

SETTING: local inpatient and outpatient clinic.

PATIENTS: all patients with a history of skin and soft tissue infections with culture-confirmed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA 300 infection from September, 2014, through June, 2015.

INTERVENTIONS: an outbreak investigation with a "search and destroy" policy was carried out. A review of infection control practices was conducted. Chart reviews were conducted to study the management and outcomes of the patients. Infection control measures included education and cultures of skin colonization sites (anterior nares, pharynx, perineum). Specific decontamination schemes for uncomplicated and complicated carriers were enforced. Separate decontamination schemes for neonates and children under 5 years of age were implemented.

RESULTS: between September 2014 and June 2015, 12 clinical cases and six carriers were identified. Of the twelve clinical presentations with positive cultures, eight were children. Of the four patients who had a relapse, three were children (75%). After outbreak investigation and infection control measures have been implemented, three persistent carriers remained. A policy of periodic screening, consultation, and watchful waiting for skin infections was instituted for these patients. No new cases linked to the CA-MRSA outbreak have since been reported.

CONCLUSION: we report the first Belgian outbreak of CA-MRSA USA300 in this article. A strict search and destroy strategy and continued surveillance are required in the management of CA-MRSA USA300.