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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a cause of musculoskeletal sepsis in children

D P Gwynne-Jones1, N S Stott

  • 1Department of Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics
|May 27, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) caused 20% of pediatric musculoskeletal infections, including deep sepsis. Consider MRSA in severe staphylococcal infections unresponsive to antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Orthopaedics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of pediatric musculoskeletal infections.
  • The prevalence of antibiotic resistance in S. aureus strains is a growing concern.

Observation:

  • A 20% incidence of methicillin resistance was observed in S. aureus isolates from pediatric musculoskeletal infections over a one-year period.
  • Most methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections were community-acquired and superficial, but four cases of deep sepsis occurred.

Findings:

  • Twenty-six out of 130 pediatric S. aureus musculoskeletal infections (20%) were caused by methicillin-resistant strains.
  • Deep musculoskeletal sepsis was identified in four patients with MRSA infections.

Implications:

  • In communities with high MRSA prevalence, methicillin resistance should be suspected in severe staphylococcal infections.
  • Treatment decisions for pediatric S. aureus musculoskeletal infections should consider local MRSA resistance patterns and clinical presentation.

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