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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among Taiwanese children in 2005 and
Yhu-Chering Huang1, Kao-Pin Hwang, Po-Yen Chen
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Children's Hospital and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linko, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. ychuang@adm.cgmh.org.tw
Insights
In Taiwan, 7.3% of healthy children carried methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in their noses between 2005-2006. This indicates MRSA is spreading rapidly within the community.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding MRSA nasal carriage in healthy children is crucial for assessing community spread.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and characteristics of MRSA nasal carriage in healthy children in Taiwan.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 3,046 children aged 2 months to 5 years across three medical centers in Taiwan.
- Nasal swabs were collected and analyzed for the presence of S. aureus and MRSA.
- MRSA isolates were characterized using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), SCCmec typing, and Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) gene detection.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of MRSA nasal carriage was 7.3% among healthy Taiwanese children.
- Prevalence varied by region: 4.8% (central), 6.7% (southern), and 9.5% (northern).
- Two major MRSA clones were identified, predominantly ST59, with variations in PFGE patterns, SCCmec types, and PVL gene presence.
Conclusions:
- MRSA nasal colonization is prevalent in healthy Taiwanese children, suggesting significant community transmission.
- The findings highlight the importance of surveillance and control measures for MRSA in pediatric populations.
Abstract:
From July 2005 to October 2006, a total of 3,046 children, of ages between 2 months and 5 years, presented for a well-child health care visit to one of three medical centers, which are located in the northern, central, and southern parts of Taiwan, and were surveyed for nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The overall prevalences of S. aureus and MRSA nasal carriage among the children were 23% and 7.3%, respectively (18% and 4.8% in the central region, 25% and 6.7% in the southern region, and 27% and 9.5% in the northern region). Of the 212 MRSA isolates (96%) available for analysis, a total of 10 pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns with two major patterns (C [61%] and D [28%]) were identified. One hundred forty-nine isolates (70%) contained type IV staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) DNA, and 55 isolates (26%) contained SCCmec V(T). The presence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes was detected in 60 isolates (28%). Most MRSA isolates belonged to one of two major clones, characterized as sequence type 59 (ST59)/PFGE C/SCCmec IV/absence of PVL genes (59%) and ST59/PFGE D/SCCmec V(T)/presence of PVL genes (25%). We concluded that between 2005 and 2006, 7.3% of healthy Taiwanese children were colonized by MRSA in nares. MRSA harbored in healthy children indicates an accelerated spread in the community.
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