Severe staphylococcal cutaneous infections and toxic shock syndrome

Abstract

Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections have become epidemic in the United States and elsewhere, and represent a threat to the community and to persons without risk factors. MRSA infection should be suspected in certain patient populations, and in patients not responding to standard β-lactam therapy. Cultures of wounds should be obtained, and proper antibiotic guidelines should be followed. Because there are epidemiological and microbiological differences between community-associated and health care-associated MRSA infections, strategies to prevent and treat these infections likely differ as well. © Springer Berlin Heidelberg 2009.