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Updated: May 29, 2026

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

M Lee Chambliss¹, Alison Rumball¹, Carina M Brown¹

¹University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Family Medicine, Greensboro.

American Family Physician

|May 27, 2026

Summary

Skin and soft tissue infections vary widely. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, considering methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are crucial for managing cellulitis and abscesses effectively.

Area of Science:

Infectious Diseases
Dermatology
Microbiology

Background:

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) encompass a spectrum from mild erysipelas to necrotizing fasciitis.
Common pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species; severe infections are often polymicrobial.
Methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) is a significant concern in purulent SSTIs.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the diagnosis and management of common skin and soft tissue infections.
To highlight key considerations for differentiating cellulitis from other conditions.
To outline appropriate antibiotic strategies based on infection severity and causative agents.

Main Methods:

Clinical diagnosis is central to identifying cellulitis.

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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

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Deep Dermal Injection As a Model of Candida albicans Skin Infection for Histological Analyses

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Nasal PCR testing can aid in MRSA detection for wound infections.

Point-of-care ultrasonography is valuable for distinguishing cellulitis from abscess.

Main Results:

Mild, nonpurulent cellulitis typically responds to penicillin or cephalosporins.
Severe infections require broad-spectrum antibiotics covering MRSA and anaerobes.
Abscesses necessitate incision and drainage, followed by antibiotics like clindamycin or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole.

Conclusions:

Accurate diagnosis is essential, considering differential diagnoses for cellulitis.
Treatment selection depends on infection severity, purulence, and likely pathogens, including MRSA.
Recurrence of cellulitis is common, with risk factors including lymphedema and dependent edema.