Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

12:18
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
[Staphylococcus aureus skin infections: a hospital study]
La Tunisie Medicale
|March 10, 2010
Summary
Staphylococcus skin infections (SSI) are common, with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) posing a growing threat. This study highlights the prevalence of MRSA in hospital-acquired SSIs, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
Context:
- Staphylococcus skin infections (SSI) are prevalent.
- The rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Understanding the characteristics of SSIs is crucial for effective management.
Purpose:
- To investigate the epidemiological, clinical, and bacteriological aspects of Staphylococcus skin infections.
- To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA in a hospital setting.
Summary:
- A prospective study identified 25 patients with primary SSIs over three months.
- Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 40% of lesions, with MRSA identified in 32% of patients.
- Abscesses were the most common clinical presentation (40%).
Impact:
- Highlights the increasing incidence of MRSA in skin infections.
- Underscores the importance of routine bacterial sampling for accurate diagnosis.
- Informs antibiotic therapy decisions, particularly for severe MRSA infections.
Related Concept Videos
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...
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...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
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...
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...
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...
Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
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...
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...
