Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T07:18:40.612Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Four cases of aggressive MRSA wound infection following head and neck surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

M. Parton ,
N. J. P. Beasley ,
G. Harvey ,
D. Houghton  and
A.S. Jones
M. Parton
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Universityof Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
N. J. P. Beasley*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Universityof Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
G. Harvey
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
D. Houghton
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Universityof Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
A.S. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Universityof Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
*
Address of correspondence: Mr. N. Beasley, F.R.C.S., Specialist Registrar, Department of Otolaryngology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GA. Fax: 0151 706 4057
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Four cases of serious MRSA wound infection following head and neck surgery have been identified. One patient died. At post mortem a mediastinal abscess containing MRSA was found to have eroded into the innominate artery causing fatal haemorrhage. The other three suffered serious wound infections, two requiring further surgery. Once MRSA hadbeen identified they were treated with intravenous teicoplanin and all made a full recovery.

Keywords

Methicillin resistanceHead and neck neoplasmsSurgeryTeicoplanin
Type
Clinical Records
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 111 , Issue 9 , September 1997 , pp. 874 - 876
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brook, I., Hirokawa, R. (1989) Microbiology of wound infection after head and neck cancer surgery. Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology 98: 323–325.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bumpous, J. M., Johnson, J. T.The infected wound and its management. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America 28: 987–1001.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cookson, B. (1997) Controversies: Is it time to stop screening for MRSA; Screening is still important. British Medical Journal 314: 664–665.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doebbeling, B. N. (1995) The epidemiology of methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus colonisation and infection. Journal of Chemotherapy 7:(Suppl. 3): 99–103.Google ScholarPubMed
Swift, A. C. (1988) Wound sepsis, chemoprophylaxis and major head and neck surgery. Clinical OtOlaryngology 13: 81–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teare, E. L., Barrett, S. P. (1997) Controversies: Is it time to stop screening for MRSA; Stop the ritual tracing of colonised people. British Medical Journal 314: 665–666.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wood, M. (1966) The comparative efficacy and safety of teicoplaninand vancomycin. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 37: 209–222.CrossRefGoogle Scholar