title: The enduring menace of MRSA: incidence, treatment, and prevention in a county jail.
abstract: Nationwide, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents an increasing hazard to inmates. This article reviews our 1-year (2005) experience with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) in a medium-sized county jail. As part of a quality assurance process, the authors cultured every SSTI presenting to our institution. The authors found that a full 68% of SSTIs (50 of 74) were MRSA species, and new MRSA cases presented regularly throughout the year. Inmates usually have poor understanding of infectious processes and need constant support and education. Correctional health care providers must approach their antibiotic treatment for today's SSTIs with the knowledge that MRSA is very common. This article reviews treatment options, preventive measures, and institutional hygiene.
authors.affiliation: Whatcom County Jail, Bellingham, Washington, USA. gedeger@comcast.net
authors.forename: Grant E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Deger
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Quick
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003441:Crowding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011330:Prisons / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012499:Sanitation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014861:Washington / Q000453:epidemiology; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents