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Resistant S. aureus among atopic children may be higher than previously reported
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Nearly 90% of a cohort of children with atopic dermatitis was colonized with Staphylococcus aureus, and a high proportion of those children had mupirocin-resistant disease, according to findings presented in a poster at the 70th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
The aim of the retrospective analysis was to determine the incidence of S. aureus colonization in the skin, throat, nares and perianal mucosa among children with atopic dermatitis. Particular attention was paid to the prevalence and spectrum of antimicrobial resistance. The researchers compared clinical characteristics of children with atopic dermatitis who harbored sensitive vs. resistant infections.
The proportion of isolates positive for S. aureus was calculated. Isolated organisms were tested for resistance to mupirocin, oxacillin and clindamycin. The researchers compared isolates from all four body sites for similarities in resistance patterns.
Children with resistant strains were compared with children with sensitive strains and evaluated for severity of disease, history of hospitalizations, prior oral and topical antibiotic use, and bleach bath use.
The final analysis included data from 58 children aged 0 to 18 years.
S. aureus colonization at any of the four body sites was observed in 88% of those children. Thirty-three percent of the children had mild infection, 29% had moderate infection and 36% had severe infection.
Resistance rates were as follows: mupirocin, 14%; oxacillin, 22%; and clindamycin, 19%.
Prior use of mupirocin and oral antibiotics were linked to carriage of resistant disease.
No associations were observed between resistance and age, gender, bleach bath use, disease severity or number of hospitalizations.
Data were culled from swab samples taken from children with atopic dermatitis who were seen in one pediatric dermatology clinic between October 2009 and October 2010.
For more information:
Gotsiridze T. Abstract #5363. Presented at: The 70th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. March 16-20, 2012. San Diego, Calif.