[Staphylococcus aureus skin infections: a hospital study].

INTRODUCTION: Staphylococcus skin infections (SSI) are common. The emergence methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a growing concern. AIM: To describe the epidemiological, clinical and bacteriological features of SSI in a hospital department. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a prospective study performed in the Dermatology and Bacteriology Department of the La Rabta Hospital during a period of three months (February-April 2008). Were included all cases presenting with a primary SSI. For each patient wee collected epidemiological, clinical, bacteriological and therapeutic features. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included in the study concerning 15 men and 10 women, with a mean age of 47 years. Clinical exam revealed a unique lesion in 52% of cases. The abscess was the predominant clinical form (40%). The bacteriological study isolated a Staphylococcus aureus in the lesion in 40 % of cases and in the other sites of staphylococcus portage in 24% of cases. 32 % of patients had MRSA. CONCLUSION: Dermatologists are increasingly faced with cutaneous infections caused by MRSA. Bacterial samples should be taken routinely and probabilistic antibiotic therapy for MRSA instituted in severe infections.