There has been an increasing awareness in the popular press regarding resistant Staph infections. Unlike most medical scares that are overblown in the press (see SARS, avian flu, etc.), this is a true threat that is increasingly common in our community. Staphylococcus aureus has always been the most common cause of skin and soft tissue infections, such as boils, abscesses, cellulitis, and folliculitis. Over the past several years, the strains of Staph in our community have become more aggressive and more resistant to the usual antibiotics. We refer to this as Community Acquired Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus (CA-MRSA). This is not the same as the hospital-acquired infection that is even more resistant to antibiotics. The physicians at Forest Lane Pediatrics are highly aware of the potential for resistant Staph infections, and we are quick to treat Staph infections with appropriate drainage and antibiotics. There are also strategies to avoid recurrence within a family. Please refer to the CDC website for more information. If you are concerned about a skin infection, we would like to see your child in the office as soon as possible.