North Carolina medical journal
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Community-acquired methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections have been increasing. The most common of these infections present as skin abscesses. The objectives of this study were to prospectively determine the prevalence of CA-MRSA in abscesses in the population of a pediatric emergency department, to determine antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the CA-MRSA isolates, and to describe the patient population that presented with skin abscesses. ⋯ CA-MRSA is responsible for the vast majority of skin abscesses presenting to the pediatric emergency department. CA-MRSA isolates are likely to be sensitive to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxisole or clindamycin, although there is some resistance to clindamycin.