Open AccessA review of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus for primary care physicians
Author(s) -
Huda A. Bukharie
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of family and community medicine/maǧalaẗ ṭib al-usraẗ wa al-muǧtamaʼ
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.292
H-Index - 4
eISSN - 2229-340X
pISSN - 1319-1683
DOI - 10.4103/1319-1683.74320
Subject(s) - medicine , leukocidin , staphylococcus aureus , panton–valentine leukocidin , antibiotics , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , staphylococcal skin infections , skin infection , staphylococcal infections , intensive care medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biology , genetics
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections among young people without healthcare-associated risk factors have emerged during the past decade. Reported prevalence rates of CA-MRSA vary widely among studies, largely because of the different definitions employed and different settings in which the studies have been performed. Although the majority of CA-MRSA infections are mild skin and soft tissue infections, severe life-threatening cases have been reported. CA-MRSA infections have mostly been associated with staphylococcal strains bearing the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV element and Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. These strains are more frequently susceptible to a variety of non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Clinicians must be aware of the wide spectrum of disease caused by CA-MRSA. Continued emergence of MRSA in the community is a public health problem, and therefore warrants increased vigilance in the diagnosis and management of suspected and confirmed staphylococcal infections.