Dermatologists' perceptions and practices related to community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections frequently present as skin and soft tissue infections, and, as a result, dermatologists may encounter patients with these infections. Three focus groups were conducted with dermatologists who attended the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in July 2005. Participants (N = 18) had a median of 20 (range, 5-29) years in practice. All perceived CA-MRSA as a problem nationally and 50% in their practice. Seventeen (94%) reported treating > or =1 (median, 15; range, 0-150) CA-MRSA infection(s) in the past year. Participants reported obtaining cultures in 99% to 100% of cases but only performed incision and drainage in a median of 42% of cases (range, 0%-100%). Understanding dermatologists' perceptions and practices about CA-MRSA infections is important to guide the development of educational interventions related to the prevention and control of these infections.
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases, Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. aof4@cdc.gov
Kristin J
KJ
Brinsley-Rainisch
Ronda L
RL
Cochran
Michele L
ML
Pearson
D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D014930:Women; D055815:Young Adult
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents