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Updated: May 15, 2026

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
[Community-onset Staphylococcus aureus infection in neonates]
Marta Barrios-López1, Pablo Rojo-Conejo, Carmen Gómez-González
1Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain. mbarrioslopez@yahoo.es
Community-onset Staphylococcus aureus infections in neonates are uncommon in Spain, with a low prevalence of methicillin-resistant strains. This study highlights the need for ongoing surveillance of neonatal infections.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal infectious diseases
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Context:
- Staphylococcus aureus is a significant cause of community-onset infections in newborns.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emergence is a growing concern globally.
- Limited data exists on neonatal S. aureus infections in Spain.
Purpose:
- To characterize the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and microbiology of community-onset S. aureus infections in neonates in Spain.
- To assess the prevalence of methicillin resistance and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) in neonatal S. aureus isolates.
Summary:
- A prospective study identified 30 cases of neonatal S. aureus community-onset infections over three years (2007-2009).
- Only one isolate (3.3%) was identified as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
- Two isolates (6.7%) tested positive for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin.
Impact:
- Community-acquired MRSA and PVL-positive S. aureus infections are infrequent in the neonatal population in Spain.
- Findings contribute to understanding the epidemiology of neonatal S. aureus infections in a region with limited prior data.
- Results emphasize the importance of continued surveillance for S. aureus in neonates, particularly concerning antimicrobial resistance patterns.
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