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The changing pattern of severe neonatal staphylococcal infection: A 10‐year study
Author(s) -
TAM A. YC.,
YEUNG CY.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1988.tb01361.x
Subject(s) - medicine , fusidic acid , vancomycin , gentamicin , incidence (geometry) , staphylococcus aureus , amikacin , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , staphylococcal infections , antibiotics , meningitis , pediatrics , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , physics , optics , biology , genetics
Forty‐two cases of severe staphylococcal infection occurring over a 10‐year period in the neonatal unit at Queen Mary Hospital are described. There was a 4.5‐fold increase in incidence in the latter half of the study period, when methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) emerged. The isolated MRSA were also resistant to gentamicin, but sensitive to vancomycin, fusidic acid, co‐trimoxazole and amikacin. Comparison between MRSA and methicillin‐sensitive cases showed that the former was associated with a longer hospital stay after diagnosis. Overall mortality was 9.5%. Two cases with meningitis died. MRSA is at least as virulent as its methicillin‐sensitive counterparts. The treatment implications of severe neonatal staphylococcal infection are discussed.