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Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Cutaneous methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a suburban community hospital pediatric emergency department
Neeraja Kairam1, Michael E Silverman, David F Salo
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, New Jersey 07960, USA.
Background:
Studies on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have typically focused on pediatric and adult populations at urban tertiary care hospitals. Limited data exist on MRSA rates in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) in suburban community hospital pediatric emergency departments (PED).
Objectives:
To describe the prevalence of MRSA in SSTIs in a contemporary suburban community hospital PED population.
Methods:
Patients 0-21 years old with SSTI wound cultures who were seen at our PED from 2003-2007 were studied. Data analyzed included type of infection (abscess vs. non-abscess), site of infection, and culture results. Chi-squared and t-tests were used as appropriate; p < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
During the study period, 204 cultures were obtained for SSTIs, 11 of which were contaminants. The subjects had a mean age of 12.9 years (SD 6.8 years); 60% were male. The prevalence of MRSA was 27%; MRSA was present in 30% of abscesses vs. 2.2% of non-abscess SSTI (p < 0.005). By year, the prevalence of MRSA was 10% in 2003, 31% in 2004, 33% in 2005, 31% in 2006, and 29% in 2007. No differences between MRSA and non-MRSA infections were present for gender, age, or site of infection.
Conclusions:
At our suburban community hospital pediatric ED, MRSA was present in 30% of all SSTI wound cultures; MRSA was unlikely with non-abscess SSTI. Our overall MRSA prevalence data among SSTIs are consistent with previously published reports in pediatric ED populations but may be less than those reported in the adult literature.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infections are common in pediatric emergency departments, affecting 27% of patients. MRSA was more prevalent in abscesses than other skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs).
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Microbiology
Background:
- Limited data exist on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) rates in pediatric skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) at suburban community hospitals.
- Previous studies primarily focused on urban tertiary care settings, leaving a gap in understanding MRSA prevalence in suburban pediatric emergency departments (PEDs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of MRSA in SSTIs within a contemporary suburban community hospital PED population.
- To analyze MRSA rates in relation to infection type (abscess vs. non-abscess) and patient demographics.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study analyzed wound culture data from patients aged 0-21 years with SSTIs presenting to a suburban PED between 2003 and 2007.
- Data included infection type, site, and culture results. Statistical analyses (chi-squared and t-tests) were employed to assess significance (p < 0.05).
Main Results:
- Of 204 SSTI cultures, 27% were positive for MRSA. MRSA prevalence was significantly higher in abscesses (30%) compared to non-abscess SSTIs (2.2%).
- MRSA prevalence remained relatively stable from 2004-2007, ranging from 29% to 33%, after an initial 10% in 2003.
- No significant differences in MRSA infection rates were observed based on patient gender, age, or infection site.
Conclusions:
- MRSA was present in 30% of SSTI wound cultures at this suburban pediatric ED, aligning with some published pediatric data but potentially lower than adult rates.
- Non-abscess SSTIs were unlikely to be caused by MRSA, suggesting a potential for targeted treatment strategies.
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