Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 17, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

An analysis of a community-acquired pathogen in a Kentucky community: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Forest W Arnold1, Barbara Wojda

  • 1University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292, USA. F.Arnold@louisville.edu

The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association
|May 28, 2005
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A significant-other with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an emerging risk factor. Oral treatment may be adequate for some CA-MRSA skin infections after incision and drainage, based on antimicrobial sensitivities.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are increasingly reported globally.
  • Predisposing risk factors for CA-MRSA infections are recognized, but data specific to Kentucky adults were lacking.
  • This study addresses the gap in understanding CA-MRSA risk factors in Louisville, KY.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors associated with CA-MRSA infections in 15 adult patients in Louisville, KY.
  • To compare the antimicrobial sensitivities of CA-MRSA isolates.
  • To provide evidence-based management recommendations for CA-MRSA infections.

Main Methods:

  • A case series design was employed, reviewing the clinical data of 15 patients diagnosed with CA-MRSA.
  • Risk factors, including close personal contact and healthcare exposure, were assessed.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of CA-MRSA isolates was performed.

Main Results:

  • A significant finding was that 5 out of 15 patients acquired CA-MRSA through a family member or significant-other.
  • Traditional risk factors (e.g., healthcare work) were present in 3 patients.
  • All isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and resistant to oxacillin; high sensitivity was noted for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and rifampin, while clindamycin and levofloxacin showed variable sensitivity.

Conclusions:

  • Having a sexual partner or close contact with a current CA-MRSA infection is an emerging and significant risk factor.
  • Following incision and drainage, oral antimicrobial therapy may be a suitable treatment option for select CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue infections, guided by susceptibility patterns.

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...
Rapid Identification of Pathogens01:25

Rapid Identification of Pathogens

MALDI-TOF MS has transformed clinical microbiology by offering a rapid and reliable method for pathogen identification. The traditional approach to microbial identification typically involves time-consuming culture techniques and biochemical tests, which can delay the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. MALDI-TOF MS avoids these delays by using characteristic ribosomal protein mass patterns of microbial cells, enabling accurate species-level identification within minutes.Principle...