Staph Infections Resistant to Antibiotics

Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of infection. It causes skin and soft tissue infections and invasive life-threatening diseases (e.g., toxic shock-like syndromes). Mortality associated with Staph aureus was reduced from 80% to 20% when antibiotics came into use. But, antibiotic resistance to this bacteria is increasing. This is occurring not only among hospital acquired staph infections, but also among those acquired in the community.  This study investigated adolescents with staph infections.

At the Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, adolescent patients admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit were identified for the study if they met criteria for having severe sepsis. Bacterial cultures were obtained and studied very closely (i.e., DNA extraction and genome fingerprints).

Fourteen adolescents (ages 10-15 years) with community-acquired Staph aureus infections were identified. Of the 14, 12 were resistant to methicillin and 2 were susceptible to this antibiotic. Complications of sepsis infection were as follows: pulmonary involvement (13 patients), bone and/or joint infection (10), deep vein thrombosis (4), death (3). None of these adolescents was previously unhealthy or had risk factors. DNA studies demonstrated that there was one predominant strain that was responsible for these infections.
(Gonzalez BE, et al. Pediatrics 2005; 115(3):642-648.)

Comment: More than ever before, previously-healthy adolescents are presenting with these frightening, antibiotic-resistant infections. Lung complications appear to be more common if the infected child also has viral influenza. —H.T.