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Updated: May 29, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Published on: February 9, 2011
Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among children in a region with controlled antimicrobial
Taketo Otsuka1, Kazumasa Yoshida, Kenichi Komiyama
1Department of Pediatrics, Sado General Hospital, Niigata 952-1209, Japan. ootsukataketo＠hotmail.com
Abstract:
Since 2002, we have conducted a series of intervention programs in Sado Island, Japan, to increase awareness of the appropriate use of antimicrobials among public and health-care staff. The objective of our study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus among children in a semi-closed geographic region with controlled antimicrobial use. The average hospital visit-based rate for antimicrobial drug prescription drastically decreased from 535 per 1,000 clinic visits before the intervention programs to 45-75 per 1,000 clinic visits after the intervention programs (P < 0.0001). We obtained 1,260 clinical isolates of S. aureus from 957 pediatric outpatients aged 0-15 years between 2002 and 2010 at Sado General Hospital. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in the final year of the study (2010, 7.9%) was significantly lower than that in the early period of the study (2003, 23.6%; P < 0.001). All tested S. aureus isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, teicoplanin, linezolid, and vancomycin. The prevalence of gentamicin-resistant S. aureus in isolates from skin lesions was significantly higher than in isolates from other lesions (41.3% versus 28.5%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, prevalence of MRSA in children in our study population could be decreased by eliminating unnecessary antimicrobial drug prescriptions.
Insights
Intervention programs significantly reduced antimicrobial prescriptions in Sado Island. This led to a decrease in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence among children, demonstrating the impact of controlled antimicrobial use.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern.
- Appropriate antimicrobial use is crucial for effective treatment and resistance prevention.
- Sado Island, Japan, implemented intervention programs to promote judicious antimicrobial prescribing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus in pediatric outpatients.
- To evaluate the impact of antimicrobial stewardship interventions on S. aureus resistance patterns.
- To determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in a semi-closed community.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a longitudinal study from 2002 to 2010 on Sado Island.
- Collected 1,260 S. aureus isolates from 957 pediatric outpatients (aged 0-15 years).
- Monitored antimicrobial prescription rates and S. aureus susceptibility, including MRSA prevalence.
Main Results:
- Antimicrobial prescription rates decreased from 535 to 45-75 per 1,000 clinic visits post-intervention (P < 0.0001).
- MRSA prevalence declined significantly from 23.6% in 2003 to 7.9% in 2010 (P < 0.001).
- All S. aureus isolates remained susceptible to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, teicoplanin, linezolid, and vancomycin.
Conclusions:
- Reducing unnecessary antimicrobial prescriptions effectively lowers MRSA prevalence in pediatric populations.
- Antimicrobial stewardship programs are vital for controlling resistance in geographically defined areas.
- Gentamicin resistance was more common in S. aureus from skin lesions.
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