Management and Prevention of Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Children

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is a common skin commensal with the potential to cause severe infections resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Up to 30% of individuals are colonized with S aureus, though infection typically does not occur without skin barrier disruption. Infection management includes promptly addressing the source of infection, including sites of metastatic infection, and initiation of effective antibiotics, which should be selected based on local antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Given that S aureus colonization is a risk factor for infection, preventive strategies are aimed at optimizing hygiene measures and decolonization regimens for outpatients and critically ill children with prolonged hospitalizations.

Keywords: Bacteremia; Colonization; Decolonization; Meningitis; Osteomyelitis; Pneumonia; Skin infection; Staphylococcus aureus.