Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 13, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

[Methicilline-sensitive and methicilline-resistant Staphylococcus aureus related morbidity in chronic wounds: a

M Trividic-Rumeau1, M-L Bouyssou-Gauthier, M Mounier

  • 1Service de Dermatologie, CHRU Dupuytren, 2, avenue Martin Luther King, 87042 Limoges Cedex.

Annales De Dermatologie Et De Venereologie
|September 19, 2003
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in chronic wounds show similar morbidity to methicillin-sensitive strains (MSSA). Systemic antibiotic therapy is not routinely necessary without clear infection signs.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of skin infections.
  • Methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) present unique management challenges in dermatology.
  • MRSA infections increase treatment costs and nosocomial risks.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the morbidity associated with MRSA in chronic cutaneous wounds within hospital settings.
  • To evaluate the necessity of systemic antibiotic therapy for MRSA wound infections.

Main Methods:

  • A one-year prospective study included hospitalized patients with leg ulcers or foot wounds.
  • Patients were categorized into methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), MRSA, or no S. aureus groups.
  • Comparison focused on past history, wound characteristics, bacteriology, and clinical evolution between MSSA and MRSA groups.

Main Results:

  • The study groups were comparable in size, medical history, wound appearance, and treatment.
  • Malnutrition was more prevalent in patients with MRSA wound infections.
  • No significant differences were observed in wound healing progression between MSSA and MRSA groups.

Conclusions:

  • No difference in morbidity was found between methicillin-sensitive and resistant Staphylococcus aureus in cutaneous wounds.
  • Systemic antibiotic treatment is not indicated for chronic wounds solely based on the presence of MRSA without infection signs.

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...