The burden of disease from meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is high. Around 100 000 invasive MRSA infections occurred in 2005 in the United States, and the number of associated deaths was about 19 000—more than that for HIV. 1 The epidemiology of MRSA has changed recently—infections are no longer confined to the hospital setting, but also appear in healthy people in the community with no established risk factors for acquiring MRSA. These community associated MRSA strains differ from hospital associated strains. 2 Mathematical models show that MRSA has a high potential to become endemic in the community. 3 The recent emergence of community acquired MRSA in skin and soft tissue infections calls for increased awareness among general and emergency room practitioners and a lower threshold for microbiological testing. Strategies to control hospital associated MRSA work in lower prevalence settings and may work in settings with medium to high endemic levels of hospital associated MRSA. 4