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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Staphylococci in primary skin and soft tissue infections in a Swedish county

Maria Sjolund1, Gunnar Kahlmeter

  • 1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Central Hospital, Vaxjo, Sweden. fwt4@cdc.gov

Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|September 30, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Primary health care physicians in Sweden now culture all skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This proactive approach identified MRSA and highlighted Staphylococcus aureus with Panton-Valentine leukocidin as common in SSTIs.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) are common in primary care, often treated empirically.
  • Delayed detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a concern, despite its rarity in Sweden.
  • Increasing MRSA prevalence necessitates improved diagnostic strategies in primary healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of routine culturing for SSTI in primary care.
  • To identify the prevalence of MRSA and other key pathogens in primary SSTI.
  • To assess the role of Staphylococcus aureus strains producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) and coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 175 patients with primary SSTI in Kronoberg county, Sweden.
  • Physicians were instructed to perform cultures at the initial patient visit.
  • Bacteriological analysis of samples to identify causative pathogens, including MRSA, PVL-producing S. aureus, and S. lugdunensis.

Main Results:

  • Staphylococcus aureus was confirmed as the dominant pathogen in primary SSTI.
  • Two cases of MRSA were detected through the proactive culturing strategy.
  • Strains of S. aureus producing PVL were more prevalent in SSTI than in secondary infections; S. lugdunensis was isolated in 10% of cases.

Conclusions:

  • Routine culturing at the first visit is effective for early MRSA detection in primary SSTI.
  • S. aureus, particularly PVL-producing strains, and S. lugdunensis are significant pathogens in Swedish SSTI.
  • This strategy enhances the surveillance and management of bacterial skin infections in primary healthcare.

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