During the 1990s, various reports of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections appeared in the literature, caused by novel strains genetically distinct from traditional healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA). Numerous lineages of CA-MRSA have since emerged on every continent, several of which have spread internationally, most notably USA300. CA-MRSA strains are increasingly implicated in nosocomial infections, and may eventually displace HA-MRSA strains in hospitals. Consequently, distinctions based on clinical epidemiology and susceptibility are becoming less relevant, arguing in favor of genotypic definitions. We review the current molecular epidemiology of CA-MRSA with respect to genetic diversity, global distribution, and factors related to its emergence and spread. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.