Diagnosis and Management of Community-acquired Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Course Description
This independent study was prepared to inform nurses on CA-MRSA and their role in this community health issue. Until recently, the primary care practitioner operating in an outpatient setting did not have to contend with the problem of antibiotic resistance when managing SSTIs. The arrival of CA-MRSA has changed that situation. The increasing frequency and potential seriousness of the infections caused by this organism mean that MRSA must now be included among the differential diagnoses considered by primary care practitioners when dealing with any dermatological condition of potentially infectious origin. In addition, since MRSA can only be distinguished from other possible pathogens by laboratory analysis and can only be effectively treated if the antibiotic sensitivity of the strain has been determined, the role of culture and sensitivity testing in the diagnosis and management of these conditions has become crucial. Indeed, such testing should now be considered part of the standard of care for the management of dermatological infections.