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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 10, 2011

A clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among professional football players

Sophia V Kazakova1, Jeffrey C Hageman, Matthew Matava

  • 1Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. srk7@cdc.gov

The New England Journal of Medicine
|February 4, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A highly conserved community-associated MRSA clone caused abscesses in professional football players. This strain, USA300-0114, was indistinguishable from MRSA found in other US regions.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasingly causing infections outside healthcare settings.
  • An outbreak of MRSA-related abscesses occurred among professional football players.
  • The study investigated transmission and microbial characteristics of the outbreak strain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of MRSA abscesses in a professional football team.
  • To examine the transmission dynamics and microbiological features of the MRSA strain involved.
  • To compare the outbreak strain with other community and hospital-acquired MRSA isolates.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective cohort study and nasal-swab survey of 84 football players and staff.
  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and genetic typing of recovered S. aureus isolates.
  • Comparison of MRSA isolates from the team with other community and hospital isolates.

Main Results:

  • Eight MRSA infections occurred in 5 players during the 2003 season, primarily at turf-abrasion sites.
  • MRSA infection was linked to lineman/linebacker positions and higher body-mass index.
  • The outbreak MRSA strain (USA300-0114) was genetically identical to strains from other US community clusters and carried Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes.

Conclusions:

  • A highly conserved, community-associated MRSA clone (USA300-0114) caused abscesses in professional football players.
  • This clone was indistinguishable from MRSA isolates found in diverse geographic locations across the United States.
  • The findings highlight the potential for MRSA transmission in close-contact athletic environments.

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