Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Increasing prevalence of nasal and rectal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in children

Ashok Srinivasan1, Steven E Seifried, Liang Zhu

  • 1Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-3678, USA. ashok.srinivasan@stjude.org

Pediatric Blood & Cancer
|September 11, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization and infection increased in children with cancer. Colonization, particularly with Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL)-positive MRSA strains, significantly increases infection risk.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections, especially PVL-positive strains, are rising.
  • S. aureus colonization is a known risk factor for infection.
  • Limited data exists on MRSA colonization and infection with PVL-positive strains in pediatric cancer patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the epidemiology of MRSA colonization and infection in children with cancer.
  • To determine the prevalence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) genes in MRSA isolates from these patients.
  • To assess the association between MRSA colonization and subsequent infection.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study of MRSA colonization and infection in pediatric cancer patients.
  • Two-time period comparison: 2000/2001 and 2006/2007.
  • Screening for PVL genes and spa typing of MRSA isolates.

Main Results:

  • MRSA colonization prevalence rose from 0.6% to 2.9% (P=0.0003).
  • MRSA infection prevalence increased from 0.99% to 3.78% (P=0.0002).
  • Colonization at admission strongly predicted infection (RR 38.32; P<0.0001).
  • PVL-positive strains were associated with dual nares/rectal colonization (P=0.005) and infection (P=0.001).

Conclusions:

  • A significant increase in MRSA colonization was observed in pediatric cancer patients.
  • MRSA colonization, particularly with PVL-positive strains, is a critical risk factor for infection in this vulnerable population.
  • Findings highlight the need for vigilant MRSA surveillance and infection control in pediatric oncology settings.

Related Concept Videos

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...
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...
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...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract01:29

Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract

The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Mismatch Repair01:36

Mismatch Repair

Overview
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...