Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40025423›Full record

SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2025

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in men having sex with men (MSM): a systematic review.

G M de Jong, S C van der Boor, C van Bokhoven, H Bos, E Hoornenborg, R E Joosten, D W Notermans, S F de Stoppelaar

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

G M de JongCentre for Infectious Disease Control (LCI), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
S C van der BoorCentre for Infectious Disease Control (LCI), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
C van BokhovenDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service Gelderland-Zuid, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
H BosSoa Aids Nederland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
E HoornenborgDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
R E JoostenCentre for Infectious Disease Control (LCI), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
D W NotermansCentre for Infectious Disease Control (LCI), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
S F de StoppelaarCentre for Infectious Disease Control (LCI), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands. sacha.de.stoppelaar@rivm.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOutbreaks of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) have been documented at multiple sites worldwide. Several studies have reported an elevated infection rate of CA-MRSA infections in men having sex with men (MSM), suggesting CA-MRSA can behave as a sexually transmitted infection (STI). To assess the potential public health impact of CA-MRSA transmission amongst MSM, a systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify risk factors and prevalence of CA-MRSA colonization and infection in MSM.

methodsThe electronic database Embase.com (containing Embase and Medline) was systematically searched to identify studies investigating CA-MRSA colonization and infection from inception up to 19 January 2024. Two independent reviewers selected potentially relevant articles for full-text screening. Only English-language articles meeting the inclusion criteria were considered. In case of reviewer disagreement, a third independent reviewer was consulted. Information regarding prevalence, strains, and risk factors for CA-MRSA colonization and infection were extracted by one reviewer and checked by a second reviewer.

results54 studies were screened; 18 were included for analysis. Notably, 3 distinct CA-MRSA clusters were observed in MSM in the USA and Japan. Screening in other MSM cohorts did not reveal an elevated prevalence of CA-MRSA colonization or infection. Identifying as MSM by itself is not a risk factor for MRSA colonization and infection, but specific behavior factors such as intravenous drugs use and high-risk sexual behavior do increase this risk. DISCUSSION: Recognizing the potential presence of CA-MRSA in MSM experiencing (skin) infections is crucial for informed clinical decisions. In cases where a cluster of CA-MRSA infections occurs within a sexual network, eradication strategies and non-pharmaceutical interventions should be carefully considered to prevent further spreading. Given the limited available data on this topic and incomplete data on the prevalence on a global scale, further investigations should prioritize studying the impact of CA-MRSA transmission within sexual networks.

Indexed as

Homosexuality, MaleMethicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcal InfectionsCommunity-Acquired InfectionsHumansJapanMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsUnited StatesMen having sex with men (MSM)Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)Sexual transmission

Identifiers

PMID40025423
PMCPMC11874445

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.