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Community-acquired MRSA offers new challenge to ophthalmologists
 James P. McCulley |
WAILEA, Hawaii — Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus has been spreading at a rate proportionally higher than hospital-acquired MRSA, with a very different presentation, according to one surgeon here.
James P. McCulley, MD, told an audience at the Hawaiian Eye meeting that the emerging threat of community-acquired MRSA makes it "increasingly important for us to recognize these organisms."
"Hospital-based MRSA has increased, but the proportion of community-acquired MRSA has been greater, and it causes a completely different disease," he said.
"Hospital-acquired MRSA is typically multi-antibiotic resistant, and it is much more difficult to find a susceptible antibiotic, compared fortunately to the community-acquired MRSA, which has much broader antibiotic susceptibility," Dr. McCulley said. Community-acquired MRSA is much easier to pass on, however, and it is more lethal.
I agree with Dr. McCulley that MRSA and MRSE are the most important infectious disease concerns of all ophthalmologists. These organisms are responsible for the majority of infections after PRK, LASIK and cataract surgery. The incidence of these infections is increasing rapidly, and we as a profession must be aware that almost half of our patients may be colonized with these organisms. Treatment of lid disease, the use of perioperative disinfectants such as povidone iodine and the development of new antibiotics are all important in helping fight these bacteria.
– Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD
OSN Cornea/External Disease Section Editor