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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Central Australia
Claire L Stevens1, Anna Ralph, James E T McLeod
1NT Clinical School, Flinders University, South Australia.
Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report
|March 3, 2007
Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is common in Central Australia, particularly community-acquired strains. High rates of erythromycin resistance were observed, necessitating a review of prescribing guidelines for skin infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Limited data exists on the prevalence and characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in Central Australia.
- Understanding the burden of MRSA is crucial for effective antimicrobial stewardship and patient management in the region.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of Staphylococcus aureus infections caused by MRSA in Central Australia.
- To characterize antibiotic resistance patterns, specifically to non-beta-lactam antibiotics, among MRSA isolates.
- To correlate MRSA findings with demographic information, including ethnicity and place of residence.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Alice Springs Hospital (September 2005 - February 2006).
- Definition of multi-resistance as resistance to three or more non-beta-lactam antibiotics.
- Analysis of isolate recovery sites, antibiotic resistance profiles, and patient demographic data (residence, diagnosis, ethnicity).
Main Results:
- Out of 524 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 107 (20.4%) were MRSA (104 non-multi-resistant, 3 multi-resistant).
- MRSA accounted for 32% of invasive infections and 19.2% of skin infections.
- Aboriginal people constituted 89% of non-multi-resistant MRSA cases, with high prevalence in remote communities; 57% of these isolates were resistant to erythromycin.
Conclusions:
- Central Australia exhibits high rates of community-acquired non-multi-resistant MRSA and low rates of multi-resistant MRSA.
- Common erythromycin resistance among MRSA isolates requires attention.
- Findings support reviewing current antimicrobial prescribing guidelines, particularly for skin and soft tissue infections in the region.
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