Ocular methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in a newborn intensive care cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the occurrence and outcome of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ophthalmologic infections in a newborn intensive care unit cohort.


METHODS
Noninterventional case series.


METHODS
Over a 13-month period, 29 neonates were colonized with methicillin-resistant S. aureus in a newborn intensive care unit outbreak. Patients were followed prospectively during the course of colonization and infection. The frequency and type of ophthalmologic infection was recorded, and patients were treated according to clinical need.


RESULTS
Eleven of these patients were found to have purulent conjunctivitis. No serious ocular disease ensued in any of these. Spontaneous resolution occurred in some patients, while others improved after either topical or systemic antibiotic treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite invasive infection caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus, serious ophthalmologic infection was not found.
Cimolai
Nevio
N
Program of Microbiology, Virology, and Infection Control, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. ncimolai@interchange.ubc.ca
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002701:Chloramphenicol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003234:Conjunctivitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004917:Erythromycin; D002701:Chloramphenicol; D014640:Vancomycin; D008712:Methicillin