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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Skin Infections

Stephen A. Martin, MD, EdM and Paul P. Belliveau, PharmD Reviewed 06/2020
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has unique properties that allow the organism to cause skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in healthy hos...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Review risk factors.

  • “Spider bite” is commonly confused with MRSA—patients often report an unclear history of spider bite.

  • Prior MRSA skin infection.

  • Risk factors alone cannot rule in or...

TREATMENT

  • Consider surgical drainage, wound culture, and narrow-spectrum antimicrobials for purulent infections.

  • See below in Alert section regarding use of antibiotics in uncomplicated cases.

  • Use antib...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patients who present with intravenous drug use should be effectively connected to ongoing substance use disorder care. 

Patient Monitoring

For outpatients: 
  • Promptly...

REFERENCES

1
Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al; for Infectious Diseases Society of America. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update b...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Breyre A, Frazee BW. Skin and soft tissue infections in the emergency department. Emerg Med Clin North Am.  2018;36(4):723–750.

  • Bystritsky R, Chambers H. Cellulitis and soft tis...

CODES

ICD10

  • A49.02 Methicillin resis staph infection, unsp site

  • A41.02 Sepsis due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

  • J15.212 Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus

  • Z22.32...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Incise and drain abscesses and send purulent material for culture and sensitivity.

  • Local susceptibility patterns of CA-MRSA should guide empiric antibiotic treatment.

  • CA-MRSA skin lesion...

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