Incidence of invasive community-onset Staphylococcus aureus infections in children in Central New York
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Manika Suryadevara1, Maria R Moro, Paula F Rosenbaum
1Department of Pediatrics, Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA.
Insights
The incidence of invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections in children remained low, but methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections significantly increased between 1996 and 2006 in central New York.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of invasive infections in children.
- Community-onset infections present a challenge for healthcare settings.
- Understanding trends in antibiotic resistance is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of invasive community-onset Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospitalized children.
- To analyze antibiotic susceptibilities of Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
- To assess trends in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence over a decade.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for 128 hospitalized children with invasive S. aureus infections.
- Analysis of infection incidence, clinical data, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.
- Comparison of data from 1996-2006 to identify trends.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of invasive S. aureus infections remained consistently below 1% during the study period.
- A significant increase in the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections was observed.
- Clinical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibilities were documented for the cohort.
Conclusions:
- Invasive S. aureus infections in children in central New York remained uncommon.
- The rising proportion of MRSA infections highlights a critical shift in pathogen resistance patterns.
- Continued surveillance of S. aureus epidemiology and resistance is essential for public health.
Abstract:
We determined the incidence of invasive community-onset Staphylococcus aureus infections, clinical characteristics, and antibiotic susceptibilities in 128 hospitalized children in central New York. The prevalence of invasive S aureus infections in our institution remained <1% between 1996 and 2006, although the proportion of methicillin-resistant S aureus infections significantly increased.
Related Concept Videos
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...
Investigation of Disease Outbreaks
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
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...