Neonatal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) suppurative head and neck infections

We describe two cases at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia of neonates requiring surgical drainage of head and neck infections. The patients consisted of 2 males, presenting 9 and 13 days of life, respectively. Both were born via Caesarean section and were full-term deliveries without any identifiable, high-risk obstetrical issues. The infection sites were submandibular and orbital. Both of the patients grew wound cultures positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which were both sensitive to bactrim (trimetroprim-sulfamethoxazole) and in one case, resistant to clindamycin. Fevers in the neonatal period (age < 60 days) are not uncommon and initiate evaluations for serious bacterial infections (SBI) following well documented management paradigms. Neonatal abscess formation and suppurative head and neck infections, however, are exceedingly rare. © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Duke Scholars

Author Jeffrey Cheng Pediatric Otolaryngology