Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 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

Epidemiology and treatment of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in children

John F Marcinak1, Arthur L Frank

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, MC 6054, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jmarcinak@peds.bsd.uchicago.edu

Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
|January 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are a growing concern in children worldwide. Effective treatments like clindamycin are available, but resistance can emerge, necessitating ongoing research into new therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are increasingly prevalent in children globally.
  • While skin and soft-tissue infections are common, invasive CA-MRSA disease can be life-threatening.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of CA-MRSA infections in pediatric populations.
  • To highlight emerging resistance patterns and potential future therapeutic options.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on CA-MRSA in children.
  • Analysis of genetic elements (staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec IV and V) and virulence factors (Panton-Valentine leukocidin).
  • Evaluation of current and potential antimicrobial agents.

Main Results:

  • CA-MRSA infections in children share epidemiological similarities with methicillin-sensitive strains.
  • Novel genetic elements contribute to the narrow antibiotic resistance profile.
  • Clindamycin is often effective, but inducible resistance is a concern.
  • Several antibiotics show in vitro activity, including trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, tetracyclines, quinolones, linezolid, and vancomycin.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding CA-MRSA's genetic basis and virulence is crucial for managing pediatric infections.
  • Ongoing surveillance and research into novel treatments like daptomycin and newer agents are necessary.
  • Effective treatment strategies must account for potential antimicrobial resistance development.

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...
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures01:22

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management01:28

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...