Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Community-associated MRSA in the pediatric primary care setting

June Hinckley1, Patricia Jackson Allen

  • 1Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, CT, USA.

Pediatric Nursing
|March 26, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are a growing concern in children, causing skin infections and potentially severe invasive disease. Rising antimicrobial resistance complicates treatment, necessitating updated clinical management strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections are increasingly prevalent in children globally.
  • While commonly presenting as skin and soft tissue infections, CA-MRSA can lead to severe invasive disease and mortality.

Observation:

  • The epidemiology of CA-MRSA in healthy children demonstrates a concerning evolution.
  • A significant rise in antimicrobial resistance associated with CA-MRSA strains is complicating treatment options.

Findings:

  • This clinical paper details the changing epidemiology of CA-MRSA in pediatric populations.
  • It highlights the increasing challenge posed by antimicrobial resistance in virulent CA-MRSA strains.

Implications:

  • Timely diagnosis, treatment, and management of pediatric CA-MRSA infections are crucial.
  • Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines offer optimal prevention and treatment strategies for primary care providers.

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical 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...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal 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...
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures01:22

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism 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...
Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic01:26

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota 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...