title: Status update: hospital-acquired and community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a common bacterial pathogen that has long been considered a hospital-acquired pathogen. However, newer community-acquired strains have appeared that differ from nosocomial strains in their susceptibility to different antibiotics. Because these community isolates harbor a novel methicillin-resistance cassette gene element that has not been associated with hospital-acquired strains, they can encode virulence factors, such as Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which has been linked to skin and soft tissue infections and necrotizing pneumonia. A variety of antibiotics are available for the treatment of hospital-acquired MRSA (HAMRSA) and community-acquired MRSA (CAMRSA). Incision and drainage is of paramount importance in the treatment of cutaneous abscesses and is sufficient treatment in most uncomplicated skin and soft tissue infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Dirk M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Elston
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000628:therapy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000628:therapy*; D004322:Drainage; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000628:therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents