MRSA Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about MRSA, including details on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, hospitals, infection, antibiotic resistance, superbugs.

Occult methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus abscesses in 2 pediatric patients.

Feder HM

University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut 06030, USA. feder@nso2.uchc.edu

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have become more common over the last decade. Recently, severe MRSA infections including necrotizing pneumonia, purpura fulminans, and rapidly progressive skin abscesses have been reported. These severe infections frequently have been associated with the virulence factor Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). Two unusual cases of occult deep tissue abscesses in children who had family members with a history of severe MRSA skin abscesses are presented in this article. Both children initially presented with fever without a focus. Deep tissue MRSA (PVL positive) abscesses evolved. Empiric antibiotic therapy for MRSA should be considered for infants and children who are hospitalized with occult fever and who have a family member with a history of MRSA infection.

Published 8 February 2008 in Clin Pediatr (Phila), 47(2): 176-9.
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