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ARTICLES: Regine M. Fortunov, Kristina G. Hulten, Wendy A. Hammerman, Edward O. Mason, Jr, and Sheldon L. Kaplan Community-Acquired Staphylococcus aureus Infections in Term and Near-Term Previously Healthy Neonates Pediatrics 2006; 118: 874-881 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Literature review indicates circumcision wound is possible portal for CA-MRSA

George Hill, George C. Denniston, MD, MPH   (9 September 2006)

Literature review indicates circumcision wound is possible portal for CA-MRSA 9 September 2006
George Hill, Researcher No Affiliatiation, George C. Denniston, MD, MPH Send letter to journal: Re: Literature review indicates circumcision wound is possible portal for CA-MRSA iconbuster{at}earthlink.net George Hill, et al.	To the Editor: The literature review by the authors of this paper[1] was inadequate. Had a thorough search of the literature regarding male neonatal circumcision and Staphylococcal infection been done, these papers would have turned up.[2-10] Also, the infection control literature provides reports of male infants who had had a circumcision procedure being infected with community-associated Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infection in newborn nurseries.[11-12] There is a third report from the popular press of circumcised boys being infected with MRSA.[13] With better research, a more appropriate conclusion regarding risk of staphylococcal infection posed by male neonatal circumcision might well have been reached. George Hill George C. Denniston, MD, MPH References 1. Fortunov M, Hulten KG, Hammerman WA, et al. Community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus infections in term and near-term previously healthy neonates. Pediatrics 2006;118(3):874-81. 2. Sauer LW. Fatal staphylococcus bronchopneumonia following ritual circumcision. Am J Obstetr Gynecol 1943;46:583. 3. Thompson DJ, Gezon HM, Hatch TF, et al. Sex distribution of Staphylococcus aureus colonization and disease in newborn infants. New Engl J Med 1963:269;337-41. 4. Kirkpatrick BV, Eitzman DV. Neonatal septicemia after circumcision. Clin Pediatr 1971;13(9):767-8. 5. Annunziato D, Goldblum LM. Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome. A complication of circumcision. Am J Dis Child 1978;132(12):1187-8. 6. Woodside JR. Necrotizing fasciitis after neonatal circumcision. Am J Dis Child 1980;134(3):301-2. 7. Woodside JR. Circumcision disasters. Pediatrics 1980;65:1053-54. 8. Enzenauer RW, Dotson CR, Leonard T, et al. Increased incidence of neonatal staphylococcal pyoderma in males. Mil Med 1984:149:408-10. 9. Enzenauer RW, Dotson CR, Leonard T, et al. Male predominance in persistent staphylococcal colonization and infection of the newborn. Hawaii Med J 1985;44(10):389-90, 392, 394-6. 10. Stranko J, Ryan ME, Bowman AN. Impetigo in newborn male infants associated with a plastic bell circumcision. Pediatr Infect Dis 1986;5(5):597-9. 11. Zafar AB, Butler RC, Reese DJ, et al. Use of 0.3% triclosan (Bacti-Stat) to eradicate an outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a neonatal nursery. Am J Infect Control 1995;23(3):200-8. 12. Hoffman KK, Weber DJ, Bost R, Rutala WA. Neonatal Staphylococcus aureus pustulous rash outbreak linked by molecular typing to colonized healthcare workers. Presented at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 4th Decennial International Conference on Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections. Atlanta, Georgia, March 5-9, 2000. 13. Rabin R. Mysterious Crop of Staph: Newborns, moms infected after stay at St. Catherine' Newsday, Long Island, New York, 9 October 2003. Conflict of Interest: None declared