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Updated: Jul 6, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus--positive surgical site infections in face-lift surgery
Richard A Zoumalan1, David B Rosenberg
1Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lennox Hill-Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, NY, NY, USA.
Objectives:
To determine the incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-positive surgical site infections after face-lift surgery and to discuss the screening, prevention, and treatment of such infections.
Methods:
The patient charts of 780 patients who underwent a deep-plane rhytidectomy between 2001 and 2007 were reviewed for postoperative wound infections. Culture results and sensitivities were recorded. To our knowledge, this is the first study that documents MRSA-positive surgical site infections after face-lift surgery.
Results:
Five of 780 patients (0.6%) who underwent face-lift surgery by the senior surgeon had postoperative surgical site infections. Four of the 5 patients had cultures that were positive for MRSA. Two of these patients (0.3%) required hospitalization and had collections that had to be opened or drained and developed wound breakdown. Both patients eventually responded to wound care along with intravenous and then oral antibiotic therapy. The other 2 MRSA-infected patients responded to oral antibiotic therapy and local wound care alone. The 2 complicated infections occurred on postoperative days 5 and 8. These 2 patients were the only ones among the 5 patients with positive cultures who had known recent contact with another physician or a hospital. All infections occurred in the year 2006, with 3 patients experiencing infection in the last 4 months of the year. Herein, we describe the incidence and sequelae of MRSA infections and colonization. The 2 major different subsets of MRSA are community-acquired MRSA and health care-associated MRSA. Surgical site infections that are positive for MRSA blur this division, which affects many aspects of the course of disease and treatment. We also discuss strategies for screening, preventing, and treating MRSA surgical site infections.
Conclusions:
Methicillin-resistant S aureus-positive surgical site infection is an increasingly problematic issue in all surgical fields. In the future, MRSA-positive infections will be more prevalent and will require well-developed screening, prevention, and treatment strategies.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) surgical site infections occurred in 0.6% of face-lift patients. This highlights the need for improved MRSA screening, prevention, and treatment strategies in plastic surgery.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Surgical Site Infections
Background:
- Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant concern in aesthetic surgery.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a prevalent pathogen causing difficult-to-treat infections.
- The incidence of MRSA SSIs after face-lift surgery is not well-documented.
Observation:
- A retrospective review of 780 face-lift (deep-plane rhytidectomy) patients between 2001 and 2007 was conducted.
- Five patients (0.6%) developed SSIs, with four testing positive for MRSA.
- Two severe MRSA infections required hospitalization, drainage, and IV/oral antibiotics, while two responded to oral antibiotics and local care.
Findings:
- The incidence of MRSA-positive SSIs after face-lift surgery was 0.5% (4 of 780 patients).
- Complicated MRSA infections occurred on postoperative days 5 and 8.
- Patients with complicated infections had recent healthcare or physician contact.
Implications:
- MRSA SSIs pose an increasing challenge in plastic surgery, blurring community- and healthcare-associated distinctions.
- Effective screening, prevention, and treatment protocols are crucial for managing MRSA in aesthetic procedures.
- Future strategies must address the rising prevalence of MRSA in surgical settings.
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