title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in the hand.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has become an increasingly common cause of skin and soft-issue infections. The purpose of this study was to review and summarize the most recent literature on methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections of the hand.
  
  
  METHODS
  The English-language literature related to methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections of the hand was reviewed, and information related to the history, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment of methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections of the hand was summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus hand infections have increased rapidly in prevalence over the past two decades. The prevalence varies markedly around the world, but in the United States, community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus now causes the majority of purulent hand infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Purulent hand infections should be treated with surgical drainage. When antibiotics are indicated, empiric coverage for community-acquired methicillin-resistant S. aureus should be provided if local prevalence rates exceed 10 to 15 percent.
authors.affiliation: Dallas, Texas From the Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Oded
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ben-Amotz
authors.forename: Douglas M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sammer
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods*; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents