Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 30, 2026

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

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Effective control of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a burn unit

H Matsumura1, N Yoshizawa, A Narumi

  • 1Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Tokyo Medical College Hospital, Japan.

Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
|June 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in burn patients decreased with stricter isolation and antibiotic protocols. Early wound care significantly reduced MRSA colonization and infection rates.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Burn Care
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a significant threat in burn units.
  • Understanding MRSA epidemiology and control is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze trends in MRSA colonization and infection in burn patients.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of infection control measures and surgical interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of 231 burn patients admitted between 1986-1994.
  • Divided study into two periods (1988-1989 and 1990-1994) for comparative analysis.
  • Monitored MRSA incidence, isolation, and antibiotic use.

Main Results:

  • MRSA was found in 80 patients, with incidence peaking in 1986-1988 and decreasing thereafter.
  • The number of MRSA strains isolated from burn wounds significantly reduced in the later period.
  • Stricter isolation, contamination prevention, reduced second/third-generation cephem use, and earlier surgery were implemented in the later period.

Conclusions:

  • Implemented infection control measures, including patient isolation and strict hygiene, were effective in reducing MRSA.
  • Early wound excision and closure demonstrated superior efficacy in preventing and controlling MRSA colonization and infection.
  • A multidisciplinary approach combining infection control and timely surgical intervention is key to managing MRSA in burn units.

More Related Videos

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria14:04

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

In Vivo Investigation of Antimicrobial Blue Light Therapy for Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Burn Infections Using Bioluminescence Imaging09:29

In Vivo Investigation of Antimicrobial Blue Light Therapy for Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Burn Infections Using Bioluminescence Imaging

Published on: April 28, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth01:29

Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth

Microbial growth control refers to various methods employed to inhibit, reduce, or eliminate microorganisms to ensure safety and hygiene across different settings. These methods are categorized based on the target environment and the level of microbial control required.Biocides are versatile agents designed to control microorganisms by either inhibiting their growth or outright killing them. These agents work through various physical, chemical, mechanical, or biological mechanisms. The...
Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature01:23

Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature

Heat is a widely used method to control microbial growth by targeting and denaturing cellular proteins, thereby killing or inactivating microbes. This method's effectiveness is quantified using parameters such as the thermal death point (TDP), thermal death time (TDT), and decimal reduction time (D value). TDP represents the lowest temperature at which all microorganisms in a liquid suspension are eliminated within 10 minutes, whereas TDT is the time necessary to achieve sterilization at a...
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...
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...
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...