title: Characterization of pediatric hospital-associated infection caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in mainland China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was conducted to investigate the clinical features of hospital-associated infections (HAIs) caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Chinese children, and the molecular characteristics of the bacteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with HAIs caused by MRSA were identified retrospectively. All isolates were analyzed using molecular typing and antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 150 patients were identified, with a median age of 18 months. The most common infection was pneumonia (55.3%), followed by skin and soft tissue infections (46%). Invasive infections were observed in 52 patients (34.7%), and their hospital stay was longer compared with non-invasive cases (21 vs 12 days, p = 0.047). A total of 16 sequence types (STs) were identified. ST239 and ST59 were common clones, accounting for 46% and 28% of cases, respectively. Compared with cases caused by ST239-SCCmecI-III, patients infected by ST59-SCCmecIV-V had a lower median age (11 vs 41 months, p = 0.047) and more commonly developed invasive infection (50% vs 18.8%, p = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Invasive infections accounted for a large proportion of HAIs caused by MRSA. ST59-SCCmecIV/V, a common clone in the community, caused HAIs in Chinese children, more often infected younger children and caused invasive infections.
authors: From the 1 Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children and National Key Discipline of Pediatrics (Capital Medical University), Ministry of Education, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , PR China.
authors: Xue
authors: X
authors: Ning
authors: Mingjiao
authors: M
authors: Sun
authors: Yanhong
authors: Y
authors: Qiao
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Dong
authors: Wenqi
authors: W
authors: Song
authors: Kaihu
authors: K
authors: YaO
authors: Yonghong
authors: Y
authors: Yang
authors: Xuzhuang
authors: X
authors: Shen
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
keywords: Hospital-associated infections; MRSA-ST59; invasive infection; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus