Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026
12:18
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
[Staphylococcus aureus prevalence among preschool- and school-aged pupils]
Zaneta Pavilonyte1, Justina Kacerauskiene, Brigita Budryte
1Department of Microbiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania. mikrobas@kmu.lt
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania)
|December 18, 2007
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus prevalence increases with age in pupils, with higher rates in older schoolchildren. A small percentage of these strains showed resistance to methicillin, indicating a need for ongoing surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium that can cause various infections.
- Understanding its prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns in school-aged populations is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and incidence of Staphylococcus aureus among preschool- and school-aged children.
- To assess the susceptibility of these strains to antimicrobial agents, including methicillin.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 243 preschool- and 300 school-aged pupils.
- Identification of Staphylococcus aureus using plasmacoagulase and DNase tests.
- Determination of antibiotic resistance, beta-lactamase activity, and phage typing, including methicillin resistance testing via disc diffusion.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus was identified in 53.8% of pupils, with prevalence increasing significantly with age (46.5% in preschoolers to 73.0% in older schoolchildren).
- Six methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains were detected (2.1% overall).
- Strains of phage group II were most prevalent (39.0%).
Conclusions:
- Staphylococcus aureus colonization is common in school-aged children and increases with age.
- A small but significant proportion of strains exhibit methicillin resistance.
- Phage group II strains are dominant, and specific MRSA strains were identified, highlighting the need for continued monitoring.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Staphylococcal 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...
01:25Clinical 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...
01:29Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
01:27Streptococcal Pharyngitis
Streptococcal pharyngitis, commonly known as “strep throat,” is an acute infection of the oropharyngeal tissues caused by the Gram‑positive Group A Streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes). Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, or talking.Mechanisms of Host Entry and Immune EvasionUpon entering the host, S. pyogenes adheres to the mucosal epithelial cells of the pharynx via surface proteins, notably lipoteichoic acid and the antiphagocytic...
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
01:25Mechanism 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...