OBJECTIVES: To provide an overview on the epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) infection in children from North America and Europe. METHODS: A literature review was conducted using Medline and based on 4 different search strategies to focus on a children population from birth to 18 years of age and to identify publications from the last 10 years. RESULTS: A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved, resulting in the selection of 21 publications. Findings suggest increased incidence rates of hospital-acquired (HA) SA infections worldwide over time. For instance in the USA, the increase in the overall incidence of SA infection among children is significant: from 20.8/1000 admissions in 2002 to 35.8/1000 admissions in 2007, as well as in the incidence of Methicillin-Resistant SA (MRSA) infection among children: from 6.7/1000 admissions in 2002 to 21.2/1000 admissions in 2007. The most frequent clinical manifestations of SA infections include abscess and cellulitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis and bacteremia. Children under the age of one year have a substantially higher rate of SA bloodstream (SAB) infections. Mortality rate due to SAB is up to 10% in neonates while approximately 2% among children. Rates of MRSA infections vary by geography: highest in the USA (31.4-59.5% of HA SA infections) and Southern Europe (28-63%), lower rates in Central Europe (6-22%) and the lowest rates in Northern Europe (<1%). MRSA infections are associated with higher rates of crude mortality than Methicillin-Sensible SA (MSSA) infection worldwide (OR: 1.93, 95%CI 1.54-2.12 – Shorr et al 2007). CONCLUSIONS: Serious SA infection represents a substantial and potential growing public health problem in the pediatric population. Given the difficulty of developing new classes of antibiotics and the increasing likelihood of resistance developing to all currently available antibiotics, a vaccine could help to prevent these infections in children and reduce associated morbidity and mortality.