A study released today from the January edition of Archives of Otolaryngology reports an “alarming” rise in the number of infections of the ear, nose, and throat in children that were caused by the “superbug” known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The proportion of Staph infections of the head and neck in children caused by MRSA more than doubled from 2001 to 2006.

In the study, researchers reviewed data regarding pediatric head and neck infections that occurred at more than 300 hospitals nationwide between 2001 and 2006. They found that between 2001 and 2006 there were 21,009 pediatric head and neck infections caused by Staph bacteria. Over that span, the percentage of those infections caused by the difficult-to-treat MRSA bacteria increased from 12 percent to 28 percent.

MRSA is similar to other Staph infections, except that it is resistant to the penicillin-related antibiotics such as methicillin that are normally used to treat Staph infections. Treating a MRSA infection requires use of other antibiotics, but if such treatment is started quickly, the infection can usually be controlled without any problem. However, if a MRSA infection is not treated properly, it can cause dangerous, life-threatening complications. This can occur if someone with a MRSA infection is misdiagnosed as having a non-MRSA Staph infection and is given penicillin-related antibiotics, which have no effect on MRSA.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 94,000 Americans get serious, invasive MRSA infections each year and 19,000 die.

Ten years ago, most MRSA infections were acquired in hospitals, often by chronically ill patients. However, during the past decade, “community-acquired” MRSA infections that occur outside of heath care settings have become more common, frequently affecting otherwise healthy individuals. The new study provides evidence that nearly 60 percent of the MRSA infections of the head and neck among children in the study were acquired outside hospitals.

Staph bacteria including MRSA tend to live on the skin surface and can be spread by direct skin-to-skin contact or by contact with surfaces contaminated with Staph germs from cuts and other open wounds. About one-third of the population is “colonized” by Staph bacteria, meaning they have it on their skin or in the nose or throat but they aren't sick. For reasons that are not yet understood, the number of these carriers who are colonized, but not infected, by MRSA germs is also on the rise.

MRSA head and neck infections most likely develop in MRSA carriers who become susceptible because of ear, nose, or throat infections caused by some other bug. MRSA skin infections tend to occur when the bacteria enter the body through a cut or abrasion.

Doctors believe inappropriate use of antibiotics has contributed to the rise of MRSA infections. The researchers suggest that that quick culture tests be done on suspected head and neck infections to determine the cause of the infection before treatment is started and that antibiotics be prescribed “judiciously.”

If you want to learn more about MRSA infections, join the Healia Health Community for MRSA

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