title: The emergence of severe, community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
abstract: The number of community acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections is rapidly increasing. Most CA-MRSA infections are localized soft tissue infections; however, severe life-threatening infections have been occasionally described. This report serves to increase the awareness of severe CA-MRSA infections by presenting a fulminant CA-MRSA infection with sepsis, endocarditis, septic pulmonary emboli, and extensive soft tissue and bone destruction. A review of the literature revealed 14 cases of severe CA-MRSA infections with a median age of 13 y; 93% had no underlying medical condition. Only 1 case was initially treated with antibiotics effective for MRSA. The fatality rate was 64%, and 40% of patients who survived had significant disabilities.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Division, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, CA 92134, USA. NFCrum@nmcsd.med.navy.mil
authors.forename: Nancy F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Crum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification