Dermatologists' perceptions and practices related to community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections frequently present as skin and soft tissue infections, and, as a result, dermatologists may encounter patients with these infections. Three focus groups were conducted with dermatologists who attended the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in July 2005. Participants (N = 18) had a median of 20 (range, 5-29) years in practice. All perceived CA-MRSA as a problem nationally and 50% in their practice. Seventeen (94%) reported treating ≥1 (median, 15; range, 0-150) CA-MRSA infection(s) in the past year. Participants reported obtaining cultures in 99% to 100% of cases but only performed incision and drainage in a median of 42% of cases (range, 0%-100%). Understanding dermatologists' perceptions and practices about CA-MRSA infections is important to guide the development of educational interventions related to the prevention and control of these infections.