Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

    December 2008 in “ Disease-a-Month ”
    Timothy J. Whitman
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    TLDR A common cause of skin infections in the U.S. is a strain of bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics, and prevention focuses on cleanliness and avoiding close contact.
    In December 2008, Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) was reported to be a major cause of skin and soft tissue infections in the U.S., with the CA-MRSA strain USA300 being the most common in outbreaks. Risk factors included crowding, poor hygiene, skin abrasions, body shaving, and skin-to-skin contact. Clinicians were recommended to culture and test SSTIs when necessary and to use empiric treatments that cover CA-MRSA, MSSA, and S. pyogenes. Prevention strategies emphasized the "Five C's of CA-MRSA Transmission" but did not prioritize eliminating skin or nasal colonization as a primary method due to its lesser role in CA-MRSA pathogenesis.
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