Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and skin infections among personnel at a pediatric clinic

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 29, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

L Rand Carpenter1, Marion Kainer, Amy Woron

  • 1Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. L.Rand.Carpenter@state.tn.us

American Journal of Infection Control
|October 7, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing threat in outpatient settings. A pediatric clinic study found MRSA colonization in staff and patients, highlighting inconsistent infection control practices.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Ambulatory care visits for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are rising.
  • A pediatric clinic experienced a fatal MRSA infection in a staff member.

Observation:

  • Among 45 clinic personnel, 16 reported skin infections, and 4% were colonized with MRSA.
  • MRSA colonization was identified in 3.4% of 262 patients.
  • Standard precautions for skin infections were inconsistently applied.
  • Eight environmental swabs (11%) tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus.

Findings:

  • Healthcare workers in outpatient settings face significant exposure to MRSA.
  • Inconsistent adherence to infection control protocols was observed.

Implications:

  • There is a critical need to reemphasize infection control practices in ambulatory care.
  • Enhanced surveillance and adherence to standard precautions are essential to mitigate MRSA transmission in outpatient clinics.

Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...
Skin Diseases and Disorders01:23

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...