MRSA infected wounds in a community hospital in rural tropical Ecuador

:  Although community acquired MRSA has been well described in many areas around the globe, little information is available about the prevalence of MRSA infections in rural areas of the Andean Region of South America.  This study characterizes wound infections from a rural community hospital in Ecuador. Methods : A retrospective review of 235 bacterial isolates from infected wounds that included wound type, site, gender, etc...   Results : Ninety-two (39.1%) isolates were Staphylococcus aureus .  Of these, forty-two (44.7%) were methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA).  Conclusion : community acquired MRSA wound infections rates appear to warrant the use of empiric antibiotics that cover MRSA infections.  If wound infections reflect a bacterial epidemiology similar to that of skin and soft tissues infections, empiric anti-MRSA antibiotic coverage is also warranted.  In Ecuador, national antibiotic guidelines do not provide for such empiric coverage.