RESUMO
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] infections in hospital have obviously imposed a significant burden of morbidity and mortality, and strain on healthcare resources. Here, we review the genotype distribution of these pathogens in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]. A PubMed literature search [until May 2014] specified 12 articles that characterized MRSA clones in KSA. Only two regions [Riyadh and Damamm] were represented in ten articles. Data from these articles showed that the pandemic Vienna/Hungarian/Brazilian clone [CC8/ ST239-III] is the most frequent in Saudi regions [Riyadh and Damamm]. Several other clones such as Barnim/ UK-EMRSA-15 [CC22-IV], Southwest Pacific clone [ST30-IV] and European community-associated-MRSA clone [CC80-IV] have been detected in the Riyadh region. A variety of MRSA clones is beginning to circulate in Saudi hospitals. Continued collection and molecular characterization of MRSA is crucial for the effective prevention and treatment