Evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Children

Abstract

Aim: Staphylococcus aureus is the most common infectious agent worldwide which leads to morbidity and mortality. Community and hospital acquired infections can range to skin infections to life-threatening infections. In our study, we attempted to evaluate demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters and the prognosis of children with S. aureus infection. 
 Methods: Children infected with S. aureus at the Department of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, from 2014 to 2022 were analysed retrospectively. Patients were evaluated for MRSA, MSSA, and community or hospital-acquired infections.
 Results: A total of 116 children's detected specimens were collected; 31.9% contained MRSA and 68.1% contained MSSA. The proportion of community-acquired (CA) infections was 88.8%, while hospital-acquired (HA) infections were 11.2%. MSSA was more common in the CA-S. aureus group, while MRSA was more common in the HA-S. aureus group (p=.025). The most common clinical manifestations included soft tissue infection, lymphadenitis, cutaneous infection, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis. Each patient was treated with antibiotics, 77.59% of patients was required hospitalization. In 62.9% of the patients, surgical intervention (drainage or debridement) was performed. Despite 86.2% of the patients were cured, infection persisted in nine patients with epidermolysis bullosa, CIPA syndrome, and bone implants. One patient with shunt meningitis died. 
 Conclusions: S. aureus cause both CA and HA superficial or invasive infections, in children. Especially in life-threatening infections, appropriate antibiotic therapy is critical for preventing mortality until an antibiogram culture result is obtained. The patient's clinical condition and regional antibiotic resistance should be considered when prescribing antibiotics empirically.