EPIDEMIOLOGIC ANALYSIS OF STRAINS OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS (MRSA) INFECTION IN THE NURSERY - PROGNOSIS OF MRSA CARRIER INFANTS

Forty-five neonates who carried methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus a ureus (MRSA) were studied. Retrospective molecular analysis using puls ed-field gel electrophoresis showed three separate MRSA epidemics in t he nursery. Strains of MRSA isolated from the neonates were also isola ted from the hospital environment and health care providers. Clinical manifestations included skin pustules (eight patients), conjunctivitis (four patients), or other minor infections (two patients). No neonate developed systemic infection. The prevalence of MRSA decreased with a ge. At one year, three (14.3%) of 21 infants that had carried MRSA at six days remained carriers and only two (1.1%) of 180 infants in a con trol 'S. aureus-negative at six days' group carried MRSA.