Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage in infants with protein-energy malnutrition.

METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS CARRIAGE IN INFANTS WITH PROTEIN-ENERGY MALNUTRITION (Abstract) Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the frequency of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) coloniza- tion in infants with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and to characterize the antibiotic sus- ceptibility patterns in isolated strains. Material and methods: The study included 123 in- fants with PEM, admitted to the Paediatric Rehabilitation Department of "St. Mary" Emer- gency Clinical Children's Hospital Iasi, during October 1 st 2010 and August 30 th 2011. Na- sal, pharyngeal and conjunctival swabs were collected for detection of colonization upon admission and at discharge. Results: The study revealed a high rate of MRSA carriage among infants with PEM (62.60%), most of the isolated strains being multidrug-resistant (86.13%), with additional resistance to aminoglycosides, macrolides and inducible resistance to clindamycin. 88% of colonized infants were nasal carriers. Conclusions: Identification of MRSA carriers permits the implementation of measures that decrease the risk for subsequent infection. Keywords: STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS, MRSA, PEM.