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Emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in complicated parapneumonic effusions

Carmen Alfaro1, Jaime Fergie, Kevin Purcell

  • 1Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|March 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Complicated parapneumonic effusion cases rose significantly by 2000, then declined. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus emerged as a cause later in the study period.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPE) is a significant thoracic infection.
  • Understanding temporal trends and causative pathogens is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the incidence of complicated parapneumonic effusion.
  • To investigate the emergence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in CPE cases.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of CPE patients discharged between January 1, 1994, and March 31, 2004.
  • Analysis of patient admissions and causative pathogens.
  • Statistical analysis of incidence trends.

Main Results:

  • The incidence of CPE per 10,000 admissions increased from 4.4 in 1994 to 18.4 in 2000 (P = 0.03).
  • A subsequent decrease to 13.9 by 2003 was observed (not statistically significant).
  • Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) was identified in 4 of 18 cases from 2002-2004, compared to none from 1994-2001.

Conclusions:

  • CPE incidence showed a significant rise and subsequent fall during the study period.
  • The emergence of CA-MRSA as a pathogen in CPE is a notable finding.
  • Further surveillance for CPE and MRSA is warranted.

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