Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 17, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Skin and soft tissue infections caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus among
1Beijing Children's Hospital affiliated with the Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) skin infections in Chinese children are often impetigo. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-positive strains frequently require incision and drainage, with ST59-MRSA-IV being the most common clone.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) causes significant skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) globally.
- Understanding the specific characteristics of CA-MRSA SSTIs in pediatric populations is crucial for effective treatment and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics and molecular epidemiology of CA-MRSA SSTIs in children within China.
- To identify prevalent CA-MRSA clones and associated virulence factors.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 47 children diagnosed with CA-MRSA SSTIs was analyzed.
- Clinical data were collected, and isolates underwent multilocus sequence typing (MLST), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing, spa typing, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene detection.
Main Results:
- Impetigo (42.6%) and abscesses (29.8%) were the most common CA-MRSA SSTIs.
- PVL-positive strains were identified in 68.1% of cases, and PVL-positive abscesses were significantly more likely to require incision and drainage (87.5% vs. 16.7%).
- The dominant clone was ST59-MRSA-IV with spa type t437 (46.8%), and isolates exhibited a high rate of multidrug resistance (93.6%).
Conclusions:
- Impetigo is the most frequent CA-MRSA SSTI in Chinese children.
- PVL-positive abscesses necessitate surgical intervention, highlighting the role of PVL in infection severity.
- The ST59-MRSA-IV/t437 clone is prevalent, and high multidrug resistance rates underscore the need for vigilant antimicrobial stewardship.
Aim:
To investigate the characteristic of community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) among children in China.
Methods:
Forty-seven children with CA-MRSA SSTIs were enrolled in this study. Clinical information was collected and analysed. The strains from the children were analysed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), staphylococcus cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing and spa typing. The Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene was also detected.
Results:
The majority of the 47 cases were impetigo (20; 42.6%) and abscesses (14; 29.8%). The rest was cellulites, infected wounds, omphalitis, paronychia and conjunctivitis combined folliculitis. Thirty-two of the isolates (68.1%) were PVL-positive, and the abscesses infected with PVL-positive strains usually required incision and drainage (87.5% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.026). Most of the isolates belonged to ST type 59, which accounted for 46.8%, followed by ST1 (7/47, 14.9%) and ST910 (5/47, 10.6%). The clone of ST59-MRSA-IV with t437 was the most prevalent one. The multiresistant rate of these strains was 93.6%.
Conclusion:
The most common disease of CA-MRSA SSTIs was impetigo, and PVL-positive abscess was associated with incision and drainage. ST59-MRSA-IV with t437 was the most prevalent clone, and the multiresistant rate was high in Chinese children.
Related Concept Videos
Staphylococcal Skin Infections
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA
Skin Diseases and Disorders
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
The Skin Microbiota
Acne Infection