Prevalence and risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in children

The objectives of this work were to know the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections in the paediatric population of our health department, to describe the risk factors for infection by MRSA compared to those produced by methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and to know the antibiotic sensitivity profile of MRSA and MSSA isolates. A retrospective, descriptive and analytical study of infections produced by MRSA versus those produced by MSSA was carried out during the years 2014 to 2018. Risk factors for MRSA infection were studied using a binary logistic regression model. 162 patients with S. aureus infections were identified. Of these, 25 (15.4%) were MRSA. The highest percentages of MRSA infection occurred among children who required hospital admission (23.4%). In the univariate analysis the need of hospital admission, antibiotic treatment in the last 3 months, the kind of infection and past MRSA infection or colonisation reached statistical significance. However, only the need of hospital admission and antibiotic treatment in the last 3 months maintained statistical significance in the binary logistic regression model. Correct antibiotic treatment was only prescribed in 26.7% of the MRSA infection cases admitted to the hospital. Our results suggest the need to review empirical local treatment regimen using drugs active against MRSA in infections of probable staphylococcal origin admitted to the hospital, especially if they have received antibiotic treatment in the last 3 months.