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An analysis of a community-acquired pathogen in a Kentucky community: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Arnold FW, Wojda B

The Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association, 2005

15 participants

Abstract

CONTEXT: Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections have been reported in patients with recognized predisposing risk factors in several cities in the United States and across the world. Reviewing risk factors in adult patients with CA-MRSA in Kentucky has not been reported.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk factors of 15 patients with CA-MRSA in Louisville KY, to compare the sensitivities of each pathogen and to recommend management.

SETTING: An infectious diseases private practice in Louisville, KY.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a case series of patients with CA-MRSA. The disease course for each patient was reviewed for risk factors, such as participation in physical contact sports and prison exposure. The antimicrobial sensitivities of each pathogen were also reviewed. Recommendations were produced from the information obtained.

RESULTS: A total of 15 patients were reviewed. Five patients had a family member or significant-other with a current CA-MRSA infection. Three had traditional risk factors (healthcare workers). All of the isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and resistant to oxacillin. All of the isolates tested for trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX), tetracycline, and rifampin were sensitive. A majority (83%) of those tested for clindamycin and only 50% of those tested for levofloxacin were sensitive. All isolates tested for cefazolin were resistant.

CONCLUSIONS: An emerging risk factor for acquiring an MRSA skin and…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 15 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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