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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 9, 2011

Management of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in children

Jennifer Le1, Jay M Lieberman

  • 1Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administration, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California 91766-1854, USA. jle@westernu.edu

Pharmacotherapy
|November 28, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is increasingly infecting children. Treatment requires considering local CA-MRSA prevalence and patient factors for effective pediatric care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is an emerging pathogen in pediatric populations.
  • CA-MRSA infections in children are increasing in the United States, posing risks from mild skin infections to severe, life-threatening conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comprehensively review the epidemiology, clinical features, therapy, and prevention of CA-MRSA infections specifically in children.
  • To inform healthcare providers on managing pediatric CA-MRSA cases.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted literature searches of MEDLINE (1966-January 2006) and Cochrane Library.
  • Reviewed abstracts for relevance to Staphylococcus aureus infections, focusing exclusively on pediatric CA-MRSA cases.

Main Results:

  • CA-MRSA is a distinct pathogen generally susceptible to non-beta-lactam antimicrobials.
  • Optimal treatment strategies for pediatric CA-MRSA infections remain understudied.
  • Commonly used antibiotics include clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, and rifampin.

Conclusions:

  • Empirical antimicrobial therapy for Staphylococcus aureus infections in children must account for potential methicillin resistance.
  • Treatment selection should integrate local CA-MRSA prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility data, infection severity, and individual pediatric patient risk factors.

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