SKIN AND SOFT TISSUE INFECTIONS CAUSED BY COMMUNITY- ACQUIRED METHICILLINRESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS (CA-MRSA) IN A MEDIUM COMPLEXITY HOSPITAL OF ROSARIO CITY, ARGENTINA

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is the main agent of skin and soft tissue infections. Over the last two decades the prevalence of infections caused by methicillin-resistant SA, usually reported at hospital settings, is increasing in community setting. Problem: this work stems from the lack of data about the frequency of skin and soft tissue infections caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA). Objective and Background: to determine the frequency of CA-MRSA as agent of skin and soft tissue infections in patients who are admitted to the hospital and to define an empirical antibiotic plan for the study population. Patients and Methods: cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study of patients who were admitted with skin and soft tissue infections in a hospital of medium complexity in Rosario City, Argentina. Results: of 200 admissions, 22 (11%) were diagnosed with skin and soft tissue infection. Material for culture was obtained in 12 patients. CA-MRSA was isolated in 6 samples, corresponding to 27.27% of total infections of skin and soft tissue, to 50% of the samples studied and to 75% of the cultures in which some agent was isolated. Conclusion: although the number of cases studied is small, it is necessary to evaluate the use of antibiotics other than beta-lactams in the empirical treatment of skin and soft tissue infections that are admitted to the hospital.