title: Cutaneous community-acquired and hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: The clinical presentation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection ranges from asymptomatic colonization to cutaneous and invasive involvement. This review discusses the cutaneous presentations of community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) and hospital-acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) that one may encounter in the hospital or outpatient setting. Cutaneous CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA are often clinically indistinguishable, although they have different epidemiologic profiles and virulence factors. Bacterial culture is necessary for diagnosis and guides treatment, as infection with CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA require distinct clinical management. Guidelines for surgical interventions and antibiotic treatment of CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA will be discussed. Strategies for MRSA decolonization and prevention of further spread will also be reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California-San Francisco, 1701 Divisadero Street, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Nina Kaur
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Hansra
authors.forename: Kanade
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shinkai
mesh_terms: D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D016896:Treatment Outcome