['Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent cause of infection in the pediatric population. Initially, MRSA was restricted to hospitals; however, outbreaks in the community among people without health care-related risk factors have been reported worldwide. Currently, MRSA is a frequent cause of both hospital and community-associated infections.', 'To describe the relationships between the molecular characteristics of MRSA isolates (staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) carriage) and the characteristics of infection (the origin and localization of infection) in pediatric patients at the Hospital Universitario de Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia.', 'A total of 43 MRSA isolates were obtained from hospitalized pediatric patients. SCCmec typing (I-V), SCCmec IV subtyping and PVL carriage were determined and related to the clinical characteristics.', 'Among the MRSA isolates studied, SCCmec IVc was present in 77%, followed by 16% for SCCmec I and 2% for SCCmec IVa. Two isolates were not typeable (NT). PVL genes were carried by 88% of the MRSA isolates, including the SCCmec IVc/IVa and SCCmec I isolates. SCCmec IV caused both community-acquired infection (CAI) (47%) and nosocomial infection (HAI) (53%). SCCmec IV, PVL-positive MRSA was associated with both CAI (47%) and HAI (53%) and caused mostly SSTI and osteoarticular infection.'] Does methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus cause both community-associated and health care-associated infections in children at the Hospital Universitario de Santander?