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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Postpartum mastitis and community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Pavani Reddy1, Chao Qi, Teresa Zembower
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. p-reddy2@md.northwestern.edu
Emerging Infectious Diseases
|May 8, 2007
Summary
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasingly common in postpartum mastitis cases. This rise is linked to community-acquired MRSA strains carrying specific genetic markers.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Postpartum mastitis is a common complication of breastfeeding.
- Staphylococcus aureus is a primary causative agent of mastitis.
- Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern in bacterial infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate trends in methicillin resistance among Staphylococcus aureus causing postpartum mastitis.
- To identify the likely source of increasing methicillin resistance in these infections.
Main Methods:
- A single-center, case-control study design.
- Analysis of 48 cases of Staphylococcus aureus-associated postpartum mastitis from 1998-2005.
- Microbiological analysis of bacterial isolates, including detection of Staphylococcus cassette chromosome mec type IV.
Main Results:
- A notable increase in methicillin resistance was observed over the study period.
- 81% of methicillin-resistant cases occurred in 2005.
- 95% of resistant isolates harbored the Staphylococcus cassette chromosome mec type IV gene.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a rise in community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) as a cause of postpartum mastitis.
- The prevalence of the Staphylococcus cassette chromosome mec type IV gene supports the community-acquired origin.
- This highlights the need for monitoring and potentially adapting treatment strategies for postpartum mastitis.
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