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Researchers find an increase in musculoskeletal Staphylococcus infections during 10-year period

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Pediatric cases of musculoskeletal Staphylococcus aureus infections have increased during the past 10 years resulting in increased length of stays in hospitals, surgical intervention, complications and C-reactive protein levels, according to a presentation at the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition in Orlando, Fla.

“As [methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus] MRSA infections rise, prompt recognition and aggressive treatment of MRSA musculoskeletal infections are critical to avoiding life-threatening complications, and improving patient outcomes,” Eric Sarkissian, BS, from the Department of Orthopedics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stated in a press release. “Our findings support prior concern about the increased virulence of MRSA compared to [methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus] MSSA infections. Optimizing patient outcomes will require increased health care provider vigilance, early broad-spectrum antibiotic administration and aggressive surgical management.”

 

Eric Sarkissian

Sarkissian and colleagues studied 148 patients with culture-positive MRSA or MSSA infection, septic arthritis or both who were admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia between January 2001 and June 2010, according to the abstract. They noted the proposition of patients who developed musculoskeletal infections from MRSA increased from 9% at the beginning of the decade to 29% at the end of the decade. C-reactive protein levels were higher in patients with MRSA than MSSA.

The average length of stay in hospital for patients with MRSA was 13 days compared with 8 days in the group with MSSA, and more than one surgical procedure was performed in the MRSA group than the MSSA group. MRSA patients also were more likely to develop infection-related complications like deep vein thrombosis, recurrent infection, avascular necrosis, septic shock and septic emboli.

Reference:

Sarkissian E. Abstract #21754. Presented at: American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition; Oct. 26-29, 2013; Orlando, Fla.

Disclosure: The authors have no relevant financial disclosures.