Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Risk factors for postoperative mediastinitis due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

E S Dodds Ashley1, D N Carroll, J J Engemann

  • 1Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. dodds002@mc.duke.edu

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|May 25, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Diabetes, female sex, and older age increase the risk of developing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) postoperative mediastinitis (POM). Obesity is a risk factor for methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) POM.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Infections
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Background:

  • Postoperative mediastinitis (POM) is a serious complication following median sternotomy.
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) are common pathogens causing POM.
  • Identifying specific risk factors for MRSA-related POM is crucial for targeted prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze risk factors associated with developing postoperative mediastinitis (POM) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
  • To compare risk factors for MRSA-POM with those for POM caused by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).

Main Methods:

  • A case-case control study design was employed.
  • Three patient groups were analyzed: MRSA-POM (n=64), MSSA-POM (n=79), and uninfected controls (n=80).
  • Multivariable analysis was used to identify independent risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Diabetes (adjusted OR, 2.86), female sex (OR, 2.70), and age >70 years (OR, 3.43) were independently associated with increased risk of MRSA-POM.
  • Obesity (OR, 2.49) was the only independent risk factor identified for MSSA-POM.
  • The majority of patients (97%) received cephalosporin antibiotics for antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Conclusions:

  • Specific patient demographics, including diabetes, female sex, and advanced age, are significant risk factors for MRSA-POM.
  • Obesity is a key risk factor for MSSA-POM.
  • Consideration of modified perioperative antimicrobial prophylaxis and other interventions is recommended for preventing MRSA-POM in high-risk patient populations.

More Related Videos

Experimental Endocarditis Model of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Rat07:46

Experimental Endocarditis Model of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Rat

Published on: June 4, 2012

In Vivo Mouse Model of Spinal Implant Infection08:03

In Vivo Mouse Model of Spinal Implant Infection

Published on: June 23, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management01:26

Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management

Mitral stenosis, a condition marked by the narrowing of the mitral valve, necessitates an integrated approach for effective management. This approach includes preventative measures, medical therapy, and surgical interventions to reduce symptoms and prevent complications.PreventionPrevention of mitral stenosis primarily focuses on reducing the incidence of bacterial infections, particularly streptococcal infections, which can lead to rheumatic fever and subsequent valvular damage. Timely...
Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management01:28

Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...
Aneurysm IV: Nursing Management01:22

Aneurysm IV: Nursing Management

Vigilant monitoring for aneurysm rupture is essential for patients undergoing aortic surgery.Preoperative Nursing ManagementContinuously monitor the patient for manifestations of aneurysm rupture, such as pallor, weakness, tachycardia, hypotension, abdominal, back, groin, or periumbilical pain, changes in consciousness, and a pulsating abdominal mass. Regularly assess the patient's peripheral pulses.Instruct the patient to consume a clear liquid diet the day before surgery and administer...
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...
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...