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Community Acquired MRSA: Are you at risk?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics, including penicillins and cephalosporins (such as Keflex). There are 2 kinds of MRSA bacteria: healthcare acquired and community acquired. Healthcare acquired MRSA infections are seen in patients hospitalized within the past one year or in patients who recently had a medical procedure (dialysis, surgery, catheters). The community acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) is the topic of this blog and is the most common pathogen in skin and soft tissue infections in emergency departments.

CA-MRSA can cause cellulitis, but more often causes necrotic lesions such as skin abscesses. These necrotic lesions are often incorrectly attributed to spider bites, particularly the brown recluse spider. The skin lesions are red, warm, swollen, and may have drainage or pus.

People at risk for CA-MRSA skin and soft tissue infections:

Household contacts of a patient with proven CA-MRSA infection

Children at daycares

Athletes, particularly those in contact sports

Soldiers

Jail / prison inmates

People with previous CA-MRSA infections

IV drug abusers

Native Americans

Pacific Islanders

Treatment:

Cellulitis is treated with antibiotics.

Skin abscesses are treated with an incision and drainage, commonly known as lancing a boil. Based on the clinical discretion of the treating physician, an antibiotic may or may not be prescribed.

Each Urgent Care Clinic at St. David’s HealthCare has a profile of antibiotics effective against certain bacteria, including Staphyloccocus aureus. The treating physician will choose the appropriate antibiotic.

Seek medical attention if you feel you have a soft tissue or skin infection.

James B. Balarbar, MD
St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center Emergency Department
St. David’s Circle C Urgent Care