Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections: can we anticipate the culture result?

Clinical Pediatrics
Maskit Bar-Meir, Tina Q Tan

Abstract

This prospective study was designed to evaluate predictors of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) due to community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Consecutive patients who were hospitalized with S aureus SSTI were enrolled. CA-MRSA infection was diagnosed in 76% of the children. MRSA SSTI was associated with black race (P = .0001) and with infection involving the lower trunk (P = .008). Only 21% of the patients in this study had S aureus colonization in their nares, and in 3 cases there was discordance between the nares and the infection site cultures. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the risk factors examined were limited in their ability to predict CA-MRSA infection. Given the high prevalence of MRSA in our community and the inability of nasal cultures to reliably predict CA-MRSA infection, empirical antibiotic therapy active against CA-MRSA and contact isolation of patients are recommended.

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Citations

Mar 19, 2014·Pediatric Clinics of North America·Beatriz Larru, Jeffrey S Gerber
Nov 29, 2011·Dermatologic Clinics·Annelise L DawsonDirk M Elston

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