Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 3, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

Published on: February 9, 2011

22.2K

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage in infants with protein-energy malnutrition

Laura Florescu1, Teodora Vremeră2, Genoveva Bălănică1

  • 1Discipline of Infant Care, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa"- Iasi.

Revista Medico-Chirurgicala a Societatii De Medici Si Naturalisti Din Iasi
|February 8, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization is high in infants with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM). Most MRSA strains found were multidrug-resistant, highlighting a significant public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) can compromise immune function in infants.
  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant pathogen with increasing prevalence.
  • Infants with malnutrition may be at higher risk for infections and colonization by resistant bacteria.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of MRSA colonization in infants diagnosed with PEM.
  • To analyze the antibiotic susceptibility profiles of MRSA strains isolated from these infants.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 123 infants with PEM was studied.
  • Nasal, pharyngeal, and conjunctival swabs were collected upon admission and discharge.
  • Standard microbiological techniques were used for MRSA detection and antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Main Results:

  • A high prevalence of MRSA colonization was observed in 62.60% of infants with PEM.
  • The majority of isolated MRSA strains (86.13%) exhibited multidrug resistance.
  • Common resistance patterns included aminoglycosides, macrolides, and inducible clindamycin resistance, with nasal carriage being predominant (88%).

Conclusions:

  • The high rate of MRSA colonization and multidrug resistance in infants with PEM underscores the need for targeted surveillance.
  • Early identification of MRSA carriers is crucial for implementing effective infection control measures.
  • These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring antibiotic resistance in vulnerable pediatric populations.
Abstract

More Related Videos

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus08:03

A Tandem Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry-based Approach for Metabolite Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus

Published on: March 28, 2017

9.0K
A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis08:46

A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis

Published on: August 12, 2020

5.5K

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...
90
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...
143
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...
219
Overview of Protein Metabolism01:21

Overview of Protein Metabolism

Proteins are broken down into amino acids during digestion. Unlike fats and carbohydrates, which are stored for later use, proteins are not. Instead, amino acids are either used to produce ATP through oxidation or contribute to the creation of new proteins for the growth and repair of the body. Any surplus amino acids from the diet are converted into glucose or triglycerides rather than excreted.
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
4.5K
Inborn Errors of Metabolism01:20

Inborn Errors of Metabolism

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is a protein metabolism disorder characterized by high blood levels of the amino acid phenylalanine. This results from a mutation in the gene responsible for phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme that converts phenylalanine into tyrosine. When this enzyme is deficient, phenylalanine builds up in the blood, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, rashes, seizures, growth deficiency, and severe mental retardation. An early diagnosis and a diet restricting phenylalanine intake...
1.1K
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
3.0K