Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in a pediatric intensive care unit.

INTRODUCTION: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection is an increasing problem worldwide. In developing countries, there is little data on CA-MRSA infection in children. This study reviewed the clinical features and outcomes of children admitted in a Tunisian pediatric intensive care unit with severe CA-MRSA infections.

METHODOLOGY: Retrospective chart review of patients coded for CA-MRSA over 10 years.

RESULTS: There were 14 (0.32% of all admissions) patients identified with severe CA-MRSA infections. The median age was three months (range, 0.5-156 months). All patients had pulmonary involvement. Six children (42.8%) developed septic shock. Two (14.3%) patients had multifocal infection with deep venous thrombosis. Two (14.3%) patients died.

CONCLUSIONS: Severe CA-MRSA pneumonia dominated presentation. The mortality of CA-MRSA infection in our series is lower than that previously reported.