MRSA, Staph, Staff, Mersa, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Symptoms & Treatment

MRSA becominng an eye surgery problem

Link: Drug-Resistant Bacterial

Drug-resistant bacteria can complicate treatment after many surgical procedures. In particular, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which has been found in many healthcare settings, can be a serious post-operative complication. In a study published in the April issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers found MRSA infections in the eyes of 12 patients after refractive surgery. These are the first cases of MRSA infectious keratitis following refractive surgery, the first reports of MRSA keratitis after refractive surgery in patients with no known exposure to a healthcare facility, the first report of MRSA keratitis after a laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) enhancement, and the first reports of MRSA keratitis after prophylaxis with fourth generation fluoroquinolones. Colonization of MRSA has been found in 1.5% of the general population, but as many as 9.4% of those were exposed to a healthcare facility. However, strains of MRSA are emerging in the community. These so-called community strains tend to be resistant only to beta-lactam antibiotics, unlike the hospital strains, which usually demonstrate multiple drug resistance. Community-acquired MRSA is becoming a significant problem, with the prevalence of MRSA among community isolates expected to reach as high as 25% in the next decade.

Eye patients fear MRSA spread

Link: Express & Star

    I wish to add my voice to those of councillors John Reynolds and Barry Findlay, the thousands of people who have signed the petition to keep the Eye Infirmary open, the League of Friends at the Eye Infirmary and all other well-wishers. I have had two cataract operations at the infirmary and always received splendid service. So many of the patients are elderly like myself, and I think it is a great achievement to be able to improve the sight of old people. My case against moving these services to New Cross is a life saving one and concerns the activities of David Loughton the chief of the New Cross Trust. New Cross has a very bad record of infections in the hospital including MRSA. For anyone with an eye infection to be on the New Cross site could be a death sentence, since eye infections could prove lethal.

MRSA rare optical complications

Link: HighWire Press

    CONCLUSIONS: Infectious keratitis is a rare but potentially vision-threatening complication after PRK. It is often caused by gram-positive organisms, including MRSA. Early diagnosis, appropriate laboratory testing, and aggressive antimicrobial therapy can result in good outcomes. PMID: 16488012

Dacryocystitis Caused by Community-Onset Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus.

Link: Dacryocystitis

PURPOSE:: To describe the occurrence of community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections of the lacrimal system and their treatment. METHODS:: This cases series consisted of data obtained from seven clinical cases of acute or subacute MRSA dacryocystitis, with or without concurrent conjunctivitis, occurring in nonhospitalized individuals presenting between December 2001 and July 2003. Clinical presentations, microbial culture results, treatment modalities, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS:: Three patients were successfully treated with antibiotics and lacrimal surgery with no recurrence of symptoms after surgery for 6 months or longer. Four patients had temporary relief of symptoms with antibiotic therapy, but surgery was not performed for nonophthalmologic reasons, and recurrence occurred. CONCLUSIONS:: The treatment of MRSA dacryocystitis can be challenging. Microbiologic cultures should be performed in all patients with dacryocystitis that is unresponsive to conventional first-line antibiotic treatment and in patients at risk for acquisition of MRSA. Appropriate antibiotic therapy in combination with dacryocystorhinostomy appears to be the optimal treatment.

MRSA eye infections drug guidance

Link: [Antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance of recent isolates from ophthalmological infections].

The antimicrobial susceptibility of 240 isolates from the ophthalmological infections during July 2003 to March 2004 was determined to gatifloxacin (GFLX), levofloxacin, lomefloxacin and cefmenoxime applicable for ophthalmological infections. The in vitro activities of these drugs against the fresh isolates were compared. The quinolones including GFLX were potently active against Gram-positive bacteria, except for MRSA, a major causative pathogens for ophthalmological infection. When MIC ranges, MIC50 and MIC90 of three quinolones were compared, it was considered that the activity of GFLX was the most active of them. GFLX showed to be more active against opportunistic pathogens including Pseudomonas aeruginosa than other antimicrobial agents, and GFLX was especially potent against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterococcus faecalis. In conclusion, GFLX exhibits a potently active against fresh isolates from ophthalmological infections, and has an effective potential in the treatment of ophthalmological infections with the drug to administer eye drops.

MRSA keratitis is rare complication

Link: Ophthalmology Times.

A 45-year-old male patient developed pain and a foreign-body sensation in his left eye 2 days after he had underwent uneventful bilateral LASIK. The patient was found to have a corneal infiltrate unresponsive to third-generation fluoroquinolone antibiotics. Laboratory investigation of corneal scrapings revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) keratitis. The keratitis responded to vancomycin, and the patient eventually developed a central scar. After excision of the overlying necrotic flap and application of topical mitomycin-C (Mutamycin, Bristol-Myers Oncology) to the underlying stroma, the patient's vision subsequently improved to 20/30. This paper provides a review of MRSA keratitis after LASIK and discusses the risk factors and the treatment options for this unusual, yet potentially serious, condition.