Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Update on Epidemiology and Treatment of MRSA Infections in Children

Michael Z David1, Robert S Daum

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL ; Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL.

Current Pediatrics Reports
|September 17, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The 2000s saw a rise in community-associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections in US children. This review covers MRSA epidemiology, risk factors, and treatment advancements for pediatric MRSA.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • The early 2000s marked a significant shift in pediatric Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in the U.S. due to an epidemic of community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA).
  • MRSA epidemiology has evolved, impacting various settings and patient groups, including healthcare settings, intensive care units, infants, cystic fibrosis patients, and households.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology of MRSA in pediatric populations and healthcare settings.
  • To discuss the impact of the CA-MRSA epidemic on MRSA-related hospitalizations.
  • To examine risk factors for MRSA carriage, transmission, and infection, and review current treatment and decolonization strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epidemiological studies on pediatric MRSA from 2000-2010.
  • Analysis of MRSA prevalence in community and healthcare settings.
  • Synthesis of data on risk factors, treatment efficacy, and decolonization studies.

Main Results:

  • The epidemic of CA-MRSA significantly altered the landscape of pediatric MRSA infections.
  • Increased MRSA hospitalizations were observed, linked to the CA-MRSA epidemic.
  • Key risk factors for MRSA carriage, transmission, and infection were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors of pediatric MRSA is crucial for effective control.
  • Recent advancements in treatment and decolonization offer new strategies for managing pediatric MRSA infections.
  • Continued research is needed to address the evolving challenges of MRSA in children.

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...
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...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
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...
Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management01:28

Acute Pyelonephritis II: Diagnostic Studies and Management

Introduction:For diagnosing acute pyelonephritis, a comprehensive patient history is collected to identify symptoms such as dysuria, frequent or urgent urination, flank pain, or costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness that may suggest a kidney infection.Physical ExaminationDuring the physical examination, CVA tenderness is assessed. This involves gentle percussion over the costovertebral angle, where tenderness often indicates a kidney infection.Diagnostic TestsUrinalysis: Used to identify white...
Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care01:30

Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care

A healthcare provider can diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI) through several methods:Medical History and Symptoms: The provider will take a detailed medical history and ask about symptoms such as frequent urination, burning sensation during urination, and lower abdominal pain.Urinalysis: A clean-catch urine sample is collected in a sterile container and tested for the presence of bacteria, white blood cells (leukocytes), nitrites, blood, and protein. The presence of leukocytes and...