Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Risk factors for community-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections: results from parallel studies including

K J Como-Sabetti1, K H Harriman, S K Fridkin

  • 1Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Section, Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, MN, USA. kathy.como-sabetti@state.mn.us

Epidemiology and Infection
|June 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Prior antimicrobial use is a significant risk factor for community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections. This finding underscores the need for judicious antimicrobial stewardship to combat rising CA-MRSA burdens.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections pose a growing public health challenge.
  • Understanding the specific risk factors for CA-MRSA is crucial for effective prevention and control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify key risk factors associated with CA-MRSA infections.
  • To compare risk factors for CA-MRSA versus community-associated methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (CA-MSSA) infections.
  • To compare risk factors for CA-MRSA infections against uninfected community controls.

Main Methods:

  • A hypothesis-generating study employing three parallel case-control designs.
  • Inclusion of patients with CA-MRSA, CA-MSSA, and healthy community controls.
  • Multivariate analysis to determine adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for identified risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobial use within 1-6 months prior to culture was linked to CA-MRSA compared to CA-MSSA (aOR 1.7).
  • Antimicrobial use (aOR 1.8), a history of boils (aOR 1.6), and household smoking (aOR 1.3) were associated with CA-MRSA compared to controls.
  • Statistical significance (P<0.05) was observed for several risk factors in comparisons with controls.

Conclusions:

  • Previous antimicrobial exposure is a notable risk factor for developing CA-MRSA infections.
  • Public health initiatives should emphasize antimicrobial stewardship to mitigate CA-MRSA prevalence.
  • Identifying modifiable risk factors like household smoking and history of skin infections can aid in targeted interventions.

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...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
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...
Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures01:22

Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures

Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic01:26

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...