title: Evaluation of the microbiology of soft-tissue abscesses in the era of community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an argument for empirical contact precautions.
abstract: To ascertain the microbiology of skin abscesses, emergency department records were reviewed to identify patients with debrided skin abscesses. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 255 (67.6%) of 377 culture samples from episodes in the adult cohort and from 145 (79.7%) of 182 culture samples from episodes in the pediatric cohort. Thus, empirical use of contact precautions for patients with skin abscesses should be strongly considered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA. tom.talbot@vanderbilt.edu
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Talbot
authors.forename: Joseph J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nania
authors.forename: Patty W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aronsky
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008297:Male; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008875:Middle Aged; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology; D016635:Universal Precautions