Antibiotic-resistant staph infections on the rise in children, health officials say

NEW YORK Staph infections have been around for a long time, and often have been associated with hospitals or other healthcare settings. But according to health officials, staph infections have, in the past several years, emerged in the community as one of the most common causes of infections, and appear to be on the rise in children.

Known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, “staph” infections are resistant to more commonly prescribed antibiotics, according to officials. Doctors often have to turn to a stronger antibiotic, but many only do so as a last resort for fear that they too will become ineffective over time.

A recent CNN article reported that doctors are claiming to see more cases of antibiotic-resistant staph infections in children. The article also cited a study that was published recently in the Archives of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery that found a 16% increase in pediatric MRSA infections in the head and neck during a recent six-year period.

“Certain factors have been associated with making it easier for MRSA to be transmitted. These factors include crowding; frequent skin-to-skin contact; compromised skin, such as cuts and abrasions; contaminated items or surfaces; and lack of cleanliness,” explained Jeff Hageman, an epidemiologist with CDC’s division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, during a 2007 podcast presented by CDC. “Some settings where these factors are common include schools, dormitories, military barracks, households, correctional facilities and day care centers. Now, while MRSA infections are commonly reported from these settings, it’s important to emphasize that MRSA is a prevalent cause of skin infections in the general community and can occur essentially anywhere.”

According to the latest CDC data available, nearly 95,000 people developed a serious MRSA infection (i.e., invasive) in 2005. Nearly 19,000 people died during a hospital stay related to these serious MRSA infections.

While the CDC did not break out how many children have been infected, it stated that serious MRSA disease is still predominantly related to exposures to healthcare delivery. About 85% of all invasive MRSA infections were associated with healthcare, and of those, about two-thirds occurred outside of the hospital, while about one third occurred during hospitalization, the agency stated.

The CDC also noted that, although the rates of disease varied between geographically diverse sites participating in surveillance, overall rates of disease were consistently highest among older persons (those 65 and older), African-Americans and males.