Risk factors for neonatal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in a well-infant nursery.

Objective: To determine risk factors for neonatal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft-tissue infection in a well-infant nursery.

Design: Case-control studies.

Setting: A well-infant nursery in a nonteaching, community hospital.

Transmission of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from breast milk in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become increasingly common in neonatal intensive care units and can lead to severe outcomes. Baby C, of a set of quadruplets, died of MRSA sepsis. The surviving siblings were colonized with MRSA.