Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

A prevalence study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in emergency department health care

April Bisaga1, Katherine Paquette, Linda Sabatini

  • 1Advocate Christ Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Oak Lawn, IL.

Annals of Emergency Medicine
|April 29, 2008
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization is prevalent in 15% of emergency department (ED) health care workers. This high prevalence highlights the need for targeted surveillance and infection control strategies within ED settings.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

  • Nasal colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant public health concern.
  • Limited data exists on MRSA prevalence among emergency department (ED) healthcare workers.
  • Understanding colonization rates is crucial for infection control in high-risk environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of MRSA nasal colonization in ED healthcare workers at a single institution.
  • To assess the epidemiological burden of MRSA within this specific healthcare setting.
  • To provide data for targeted infection prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study design.
  • Inclusion of nurses, physicians, and technicians from the ED.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for MRSA detection in nasal swabs.

Main Results:

  • A total of 105 ED healthcare workers were enrolled.
  • 16 participants (15%) tested positive for MRSA nasal colonization.
  • No significant difference in colonization rates was found across different healthcare roles (nurses, physicians, technicians).

Conclusions:

  • ED healthcare workers exhibit a high prevalence of MRSA nasal colonization.
  • The observed prevalence exceeds rates reported in community surveillance and other ED staff studies.
  • Findings underscore the importance of MRSA screening and control measures in EDs.

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...
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 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...
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...
Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity01:20

Sputum Studies II: Culture and Sensitivity

Description
Sputum culture and sensitivity is a medical procedure used to diagnose bacterial infections in the respiratory tract and select the most appropriate antibiotics for treatment. This process involves analyzing sputum samples of thick and opaque secretions produced in the lungs and airways. These samples are collected from patients and then sent to the laboratory for analysis.
The test can identify various pathogens responsible for respiratory infections, including Streptococcus,...