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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

A cluster of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospital security guards

Eleni Patrozou1, Kim Reid, Julie Jefferson

  • 1Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
|February 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

A hospital outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) soft-tissue infections occurred in security guards. The investigation identified a patient as the source, with transmission to healthcare workers via physical contact.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in healthcare settings.
  • Soft-tissue infections are common manifestations of MRSA.
  • Understanding transmission dynamics is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a cluster of MRSA soft-tissue infections among hospital security guards.
  • To identify the source and transmission pathway of the MRSA outbreak.
  • To characterize the specific MRSA strain involved.

Main Methods:

  • Epidemiological investigation of affected security guards.
  • Molecular subtyping of Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
  • Case-contact tracing to identify the index patient.

Main Results:

  • A cluster of five MRSA soft-tissue infections was identified in security guards.
  • The source of the infections was traced to a patient in the emergency department.
  • The outbreak strain was identified as community-acquired MRSA USA-300.
  • Transmission occurred through direct physical contact between the patient and healthcare workers.

Conclusions:

  • Patients can serve as a reservoir for healthcare-associated MRSA transmission.
  • Community-acquired MRSA strains like USA-300 can spread within healthcare facilities.
  • Physical contact is a significant route for MRSA transmission to healthcare workers.
  • Enhanced infection control measures are necessary to prevent MRSA spread in emergency departments.

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