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Inadequate postgraduate training of skin and soft tissue infections in an era of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kessler, CS; Kane, K; Dev, S; Smiley, JL
Published in: J Investig Med
August 2013

BACKGROUND: Since 2002, the incidence of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) has been steadily increasing and CA-MRSA may now account for most community-based SSTIs. Although consensus remains vague, using antibiotics with MRSA coverage has shown improved rates of clinical resolution. The goal of this pilot study was to assess resident physicians' awareness and management of CA-MRSA SSTIs in the acute/ambulatory care setting. METHODS: This is a prospective cross-sectional survey-design study based on clinical case scenarios approved by the university's institutional review board. The survey was distributed to residents in internal medicine, general surgery, and emergency medicine. The survey was designed to assess (1) their knowledge of MRSA prevalence in community SSTIs and (2) their choice of empiric antibiotic for community-based SSTIs. RESULTS: Across all residency programs, only 15.7% of residents correctly estimated prevalence of CA-MRSA in SSTIs in the acute care/ambulatory setting to be 50% or higher. In practice, 28.6% of general surgery residents, 50.0% of internal medicine residents, and 69.7% of emergency medicine residents would use an antibiotic with appropriate MRSA coverage. CONCLUSION: This pilot study reveals that a substantial number of resident physicians are unaware of the increasing prevalence of CA-MRSA SSTIs and continue to use β-lactam antibiotics for empiric pharmacotherapy of community-based SSTIs. More education is desperately needed on this crucial topic across various residency training programs.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Investig Med

DOI

EISSN

1708-8267

Publication Date

August 2013

Volume

61

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1026 / 1029

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections
  • Staphylococcal Infections
  • Soft Tissue Infections
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pilot Projects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General Clinical Medicine
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Kessler, C. S., Kane, K., Dev, S., & Smiley, J. L. (2013). Inadequate postgraduate training of skin and soft tissue infections in an era of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Investig Med, 61(6), 1026–1029. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31829a7a27
Kessler, Chad S., Khadidjatou Kane, Sharmistha Dev, and Jeremy L. Smiley. “Inadequate postgraduate training of skin and soft tissue infections in an era of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.J Investig Med 61, no. 6 (August 2013): 1026–29. https://doi.org/10.2310/JIM.0b013e31829a7a27.
Kessler, Chad S., et al. “Inadequate postgraduate training of skin and soft tissue infections in an era of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.J Investig Med, vol. 61, no. 6, Aug. 2013, pp. 1026–29. Pubmed, doi:10.2310/JIM.0b013e31829a7a27.

Published In

J Investig Med

DOI

EISSN

1708-8267

Publication Date

August 2013

Volume

61

Issue

6

Start / End Page

1026 / 1029

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Staphylococcal Skin Infections
  • Staphylococcal Infections
  • Soft Tissue Infections
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pilot Projects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General Clinical Medicine