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Staphylococcal infections in infants: updates and current challenges

Ana C Blanchard1, Caroline Quach2, Julie Autmizguine3

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte Justine, University of Montreal, 3175 Chemin Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1C5, Canada.

Clinics in Perinatology
|February 14, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcal infections pose a risk to newborns, especially premature infants. Diagnosing and treating these infections, particularly methicillin-resistant strains, presents significant clinical challenges.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal infections
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious disease epidemiology

Background:

  • Staphylococci are prevalent pathogens during the neonatal period.
  • Increased survival rates of premature infants contribute to prolonged hospital stays and heightened risks of invasive staphylococcal disease.
  • Diagnostic challenges and inconsistent clinical practices complicate the management of coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the challenges in diagnosing and managing staphylococcal infections in neonates.
  • To discuss the impact of methicillin resistance on empirical treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on neonatal staphylococcal infections.
  • Analysis of diagnostic criteria and clinical practices.
  • Examination of antimicrobial resistance patterns, focusing on methicillin resistance.

Main Results:

  • Conflicting definitions and inconsistent clinical practices exist for coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections.
  • Methicillin resistance significantly impacts the selection of empirical antibiotic therapy.
  • Premature infants with prolonged hospital stays are at increased risk for invasive disease.

Conclusions:

  • Standardized diagnostic approaches are needed for coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections in neonates.
  • Antimicrobial stewardship is crucial, considering rising resistance rates.
  • Further research is required to optimize treatment protocols for invasive staphylococcal disease in this vulnerable population.

Keywords:
Bloodstream infectionCoagulase-negative staphylococciHeteroresistanceInfantsNeonatal intensive care unitResistanceSepsisStaphylococcus aureus

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