title: Treatment intensity and characteristics of MRSA infection in CF.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and interchange of hospital-associated strains carrying the staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec-II (SCCmec-II) with those in the community (SCCmec-IV) has increased. This study assesses the impact of MRSA and different MRSA types on clinical outcomes, medication use, and antibiotic sensitivities.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRSA isolates from CF patients at our center were typed by SCCmec- and pv(l) status. Patient characteristics, lung function and nutrition are compared between MRSA types and to age, gender and Pseudomonas aeruginosa matched patients with chronic methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-two percent of patients carry pv(l) negative SCCmec-II isolates. Seventeen percent of all MRSA were SCCmec-IV pv(l) positive (USA300). These patients were younger and fewer had chronic P. aeruginosa infection, whereas pv(l)-negative SCCmec-IV isolates show highest antibiotic resistance. Nutritional outcomes and FEV1 percent predicted (75.1 ± 2.7 versus 77.9 ± 2.7) did not differ in patients with MRSA compared to those with MSSA but MRSA patients received more pulmonary maintenance but not oral antibiotic medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with chronic MRSA are treated more intensely than age, gender and Pseudomonas aeruginosa matched MSSA-positive patients but clinical characteristics within MRSA patients vary depending on MRSA types.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7217, USA.
authors.forename: Marianne S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Muhlebach
authors.forename: Meredith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: LaVange
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mayhew
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Goodrich
authors.forename: Melissa B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000150:complications; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008712:Methicillin