[Staphylococcus aureus skin infections: a hospital study].
BACKGROUND
Staphylococcus skin infections (SSI) are common. The emergence methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing concern.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological features of SSI in a hospital department.


METHODS
This was a prospective study performed in the Dermatology and Bacteriology Department of the La Rabta Hospital during a period of three months (February-April 2008). Were included all cases presenting with a primary SSI. For each patient wee collected epidemiological, clinical, bacteriological and therapeutic features.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients were included in the study concerning 15 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 47 years. Clinical exam revealed a unique lesion in 52% of cases. The abscess was the predominant clinical form (40%). The bacteriological study isolated a Staphylococcus aureus in the lesion in 40 % of cases and in the other sites of staphylococcus portage in 24% of cases. 32 % of patients had MRSA.


CONCLUSIONS
Dermatologists are increasingly faced with cutaneous infections caused by MRSA. Bacterial samples should be taken routinely and probabilistic antibiotic therapy for MRSA instituted in severe infections.
Meddeb
Service de dermatologie, hôpital La Rabta, Tunis.
Zaraa
I
I
Zribi
M
M
Trojjet
S
S
El Euch
D
D
Mebazaa
A
A
Cheikhrouhou
R
R
Mokni
M
M
Fendri
Chadia
C
Ben Osman
Amel
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult