An outbreak of community-acquired foodborne illness caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

The investigation into an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness in which the vehicle of infection was food from a delicatessen contaminated by MRSA. A food handler in the delicatessen, an asymptomatic carrier of the same strain of MRSA, probably contaminated the food. The person may have acquired it during visits to a nursing home prior to the outbreak, demonstrating the spread of MRSA into the community. This is the first report of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness caused by community-acquired MRSA. Emerging Infectious Diseases 2002;8:82-84.