(March 17, 2008 - Insidermedicine) A virulent type of bacteria called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, is not an uncommon cause of infection following facelift surgery, according to research published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Here are some facts about MRSA:

•    MRSA is a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus, typically referred to as just "staph", that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin.

•    It is now a major cause of infections occurring in surgical wounds, skin, and other soft tissues

•    MRSA infections are more virulent than infections caused by regular staph, meaning they spread faster, are harder to control, require more expensive treatments, and are more likely to be fatal.

Researchers out of Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital and New York University School of Medicine reviewed the charts of nearly 800 patients who had undergone facelift surgery between 2001 and 2007.

While infections occurred less than 1% of the time, 80% of infections were related to MRSA. Two of  four patients who developed MRSA infections had had contact with hospitals, patients, or medical staff before their surgery, which may have been how they picked up the MRSA.

Today's research highlights the significant role that MRSA plays in infections following facelift surgery. The authors recommend that surgeons performing these procedures screen their patients for infection risk, take care to prevent the spread of infection among patients, and have a high index of suspicion for MRSA when infections do occur.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Essie Heinrich.