title: Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pediatric head and neck infections: results of a national survey of otolaryngologists in the United States.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little information is available concerning the treatment of pediatric head and neck infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is resistant to antimicrobial agents such as cephalosporins. The objective of this investigation is to describe clinical characteristics of pediatric MRSA head and neck infections in the United States and how they are treated.
  
  
  METHODS
  National survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Practicing members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery were surveyed regarding patients aged < 18 years with MRSA head and neck infections during 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical characteristics and treatment of pediatric MRSA infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 701 surveys sent, 201 were completed (adjusted response rate 30%). Otolaryngologists responding to the survey reported treating a total of 1123 pediatric MRSA head and neck infections in 2006. Forty-seven percent reported treating pediatric patients with MRSA infections in the otologic region, 39% in the oropharyngeal/neck region, and 17% in the sinonasal region. The antimicrobials most frequently used to treat these infections were clindamycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and vancomycin. Cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones were also commonly prescribed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Otolaryngologists in the United States reported treating a broad range of MRSA head and neck infections in pediatric patients. Although most were treated with appropriate antimicrobials, some were treated with agents not active against MRSA.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Office of Workforce and Career Development, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. ALCohen1@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Naseri
authors.forename: Ximena
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pinell
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sobol
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gorwitz
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D006257:Head; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009333:Neck; D010038:Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents