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National Surveillance of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Among Hospitalized Pediatric Patients in Canadian Acute Care Facilities, 1995–2007
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 07/27/2012
Matlow A et al. – These data suggest that the increase in methicillin–resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among hospitalized pediatric patients is largely driven by the emergence of CA–MRSA strains with skin and soft tissue infections representing the majority of MRSA infections.
Methods- Surveillance was laboratory-based. Clinical and epidemiologic data were obtained by reviewing the medical records.
- Standardized definitions were used to determine MRSA infection. Isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
- A total of 1262 pediatric patients were newly identified as MRSA positive from 1995 to 2007.
- Ages ranged from newborn to 17.9 years, 49% were infected with MRSA (51% colonized), skin and soft tissue infections accounted for the majority (59%) of MRSA infections and 57% were epidemiologically classified as community acquired (CA).
- The most common epidemic strain types isolated were CMRSA2/USA100/800, CMRSA10/USA300 and CMRSA7/USA400.
- Overall, MRSA rates per 10,000 patient days increased from 0.08 to 3.88. Since 2005, overall rates of CA-MRSA per 10,000 patient days have dramatically increased while healthcare-associated MRSA rates remained relatively stable.