What are the risk factors for Community Associated MRSA (CA-MRSA)?
Although there have been documented outbreaks of CA-MRSA in numerous settings and associated with a number of activities, it is important to remember that CA-MRSA may occur in otherwise healthy persons with no traditional MRSA associated risk factors. CA-MRSA knows no age boundaries and has been documented in newborns, toddlers, teens, adults, and the elderly. A recent study (2007) concluded that there are no reliable markers to distinguish patients with CA-MRSA infection from patients with other skin infections caused by staph. With that in mind there are some factors that should raise the level of suspicion for community onset of skin infections being MRSA. * Populations in which MRSA clusters have been documented Athletes in contact sports Intravenous drug and methamphetamine users Inmates at correctional facilities Military personnel * Medical history Recent hospitalization Recurrent or recent antibiotic use Past MRSA infections Recurrent skin disease Recurrent or recent skin damag
