Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections among healthy full-term newborns
- Roman G Golash (roman.golash{at}us.army.mil)
- Joel S Price (jprice1{at}idph.state.il.us)
Abstract
Objective: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have emerged in the community, causing disease among healthy persons lacking traditional risk factors for MRSA infection. We describe an outbreak of MRSA among healthy full-term newborns.
Design: Identification of cases and their corresponding medical information was collected. Telephone interviews with mothers of cases were conducted. Surveillance cultures from mothers and newborns were performed. MRSA isolates were genotyped.
Setting: Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
Participants: Newborns, their mothers, and hospital healthcare workers (HCWs).
Intervention: Nursery infection-control practices were enhanced. The MRSA-colonized HCWs received intranasal mupirocin.
Main outcome: Within 4-23 days of birth, eleven newborns were identified with pustules, vesicles, or blisters located on the head, groin, perineum, ears, legs, chin, and trunk. All received antimicrobials and recovered without incident.
Results: None of 432 peripartum women, one of 399 newborns, and two of 135 HCWs were nasal MRSA carriers. Available isolates from six patients, two HCWs, and one from an MRSA-colonized newborn were similar by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Other than contact with the hospital, no common exposures of MRSA transmission were identified.
Conclusions: MRSA strains that initially emerged in the community are now causing disease in healthcare settings. Providers should be aware that MRSA can cause skin infections among healthy newborns. Adherence to standard infection-control practices is important to prevent transmission of MRSA in nurseries.
