title: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: decolonization and prevention prescribing practices for children treated with skin abscesses/boils in a pediatric emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) eradication/prevention practices of clinicians managing patients with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), specifically, in those patients undergoing abscess incision and drainage (I&D) in a pediatric emergency department (ED).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed for children aged 0 to 18 years old undergoing I&D of cutaneous abscess between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011, in the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred seventy-five patients underwent abscess I&D during our study period. Approximately 25% of our population had previous history of MRSA, SSTI, or boil/abscess; in addition, 26% of our population had a household family member with a previous history of MRSA, SSTI, or boil/abscess. Wound cultures were obtained in 399 (69%) of 575 of I&D abscesses, and of these, 57% of the I&D abscesses grew MRSA. Of all patients, only 3.7% (21 patients) had documentation of MRSA eradication/prevention instructions for patient/family.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Methicillin-resistant S aureus eradication/prevention discussions are not commonly included in discharge instructions for patients undergoing abscess I&D. Given the significant proportion with previous MRSA infection, the ED may be a setting to provide instructions to patients/families with recurrent infections.
authors: From the Division of Emergency Medicine, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Jeanine E
authors: JE
authors: Jennings
authors: Nathan L
authors: NL
authors: Timm
authors: Elena M
authors: EM
authors: Duma
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019468:Disease Management; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents