Skin and soft tissue infections caused by community-associated methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus among

W Geng1, Y Yang, C Wang

  • 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.
Abstract

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...
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...
Acne Infection01:27

Acne Infection

Acne is a multifactorial skin condition primarily affecting adolescents and young adults, with a global prevalence estimated to exceed 75% in this demographic. The condition is characterized by the formation of comedones (blackheads and whiteheads), papules, pustules, nodules, and, in severe cases, cysts, particularly in areas rich in sebaceous glands such as the face, neck, chest, and back. The pathogenesis involves increased sebum production, follicular hyperkeratinization, colonization by...