Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus hand infections in an urban setting.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection appears to be increasing. The purpose of this study was to determine prospectively the incidence of MRSA in community-associated hand infections in an urban hospital.


METHODS
Sixty-one patients presented to our institution over a 9-month period with community-acquired hand infections that were evaluated and treated by the hand service. The specimens obtained during the initial evaluation and treatment were cultured and subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing. Four nosocomial infections and 5 fight bites were excluded.


RESULTS
Of the remaining 52 patients, 38 (73.1%) were MRSA positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The rate of community-associated MRSA hand infections in an urban setting is higher than previously suspected. This should be taken into account when managing seemingly routine hand infections given that the treatment options are different for MRSA infections.


METHODS
Therapeutic IV.
Bach
H Gregory
HG
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Steffin
Brian
B
Chhadia
Ankur M
AM
Kovachevich
Rudy
R
Gonzalez
Mark H
MH
D000328:Adult; D002641:Chicago / Q000453:epidemiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006786:Hospitals, Urban; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*