Community-Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Acutely Ill Children: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

The hospital-based incidence of CA-MRSA infections among children appears to be increasing. None of the admission clinical or laboratory variables could reliably identify CA-MRSA infections. As there seems to be no reliable way to differentiate children with MSSA and MRSA infections, physicians may consider empiric initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics at admission to cover both MSSA and MRSA, especially in critically ill children with suspected Staphylococcal infections.